Cairo – The steps of the Egyptian government continue to support the operation and management of airports to private sector companies in order to develop their performance away from the bureaucracy, get rid of any obstacles and negatives related to aviation traffic services and stimulate the tourism sector.
The Minister of Aviation had confirmed in statements that the state is concerned with offering airports in front of the private sector for administration and employment, and revealed that they will do this at the end of the study carried out by the International Finance Foundation of the World Bank, which is the government adviser in this field.
Earlier, Mohamed Al -Homsani, a spokesman for the Prime Minister, announced that the government was about to complete the plan and integrated vision of the airport offering in agreement with the “International Finance Corporation” as the government advisor in the program, expressing his hope that this will happen during the current year.
According to Ahmed Al -Tibi, the undersecretary of the Tourism and Aviation Committee in the House of Representatives (Parliament), the operation and management of airports will be limited to the services provided to the departed passengers and expatriates, in addition to restaurants and services for carrying bags and other logistical matters, while “the security services that are provided through the Ministry of Interior will not be prolonged similar to (passports) and other operational matters that will continue to be managed by the government without change.”
Egypt airports
According to a study of the Egyptian Center for Thought and Strategic Studies, Egypt owns 23 airports after the construction of 4 airports during the past nine years, which are Smfflex, the administrative capital, Bennis and Al -Bardawil, and the capacity of Egyptian airports is 63.5 million passengers by the end of 2023.
According to the same study, the civil aviation sector aims to increase the capacity of airports to reach 72.2 million passengers on an annual basis by the fiscal year 2026-2027 from 66.2 million, the fiscal year ending 2023-2024, reaching 109.2 million passengers annually by the end of 2030. This is linked to the target of establishing a new passenger building at Cairo International Airport with a capacity of 30 million passengers Annually, in addition to establishing another passenger building at Hurghada International Airport with a capacity of 7 million passengers annually.
The government also aims to support the fleet of the National Air Company to reach 97 aircraft in addition to 6 air charging aircraft by 2026-2027 with the support of the low-cost airline as one of the most important components of the aviation industry.
Strategy from the World Bank
According to official data issued by the Ministry of Aviation, “the total number of passengers in Egyptian airports during the past year amounted to more than 22 million passengers, compared to about 20.276 million in 2023”, while “the number of flights increased by 3% last year compared to 2023 to record 167 thousand and 684 flights at various airports.”
But the support and operation of airports management to private sector companies will not include Cairo Airport, as the Egyptian government excluded it from this plan.
Government sources said that a small airport will be launched as a model, and all airports are on the list, and that the study that the government assigned the International Finance Foundation affiliated with the World Bank to prepare a strategy for the process of offering airports that will end within 3 months.
For his part, businessman Naguib Sawiris called for the need to expedite the launch of airports to the private sector, especially Cairo Airport, because it is the biggest problem, stressing that the private sector is better in managing projects.
Sawiris continued his speech, and he said, “Diversification between Arab and local companies in development must be diversified” to find competition, pointing to Turkey and Morocco to grow in the tourism sector because of “the efficiency of management in all facilities that serve the tourism movement, foremost of which is airports.”
Separation of ownership from the administration
For his part, Karim Al -Minyawi, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce and the CEO of the Mecco Tourism Group – Al -Jazeera Net – said, “The support and management of airports operating to private sector companies will have a positive impact of one million per cent, as it is necessary for each party to work in its specialized field. For example, I have ownership of tourist hotels and villages, but I cannot manage them efficiently, so I seek help with people or companies owned Experience in this field. “
In his speech to Al -Jazeera Net – Al -Minyawi stressed the importance of a clear vision for the future of Egypt, noting that the country is full of multiple types of tourism, including beach tourism that spreads on the banks of the surrounding seas, in addition to tourism of antiquities and historical sites that spread throughout the republic.
In order for these sectors to achieve tangible success, Al -Minyawi stressed the need to use institutions specialized in tourism promotion. He explained that the state ownership of airports does not necessarily mean that the government will manage it directly, but rather can contract with international companies with experience, such as companies from Singapore or other countries that have successful experiences in this field.
Regarding the possibility of excluding Cairo International Airport from support plans for private companies, Al -Minyawi replied, “On the contrary, Cairo Airport is the first airport to support its management of a private sector. Aviation.
Negatives harmful to tourism
Tourist expert Hisham Idris, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al -Wadi Tourism Group and member of the Arab and Foreign Tourism Committee in the Chamber of companies and travel agencies, confirmed that the support of the operation of Egyptian airports to companies from the private sector is a very important strategic step, which would raise the efficiency of operation and improve the experience of passengers.
Idris said – in exclusive statements to Al -Jazeera Net – that many international airports, such as Dubai Airport and London airports, are managed by private companies, and this was clearly reflected in the quality of services and the speed of procedures. He pointed out that the Egyptian airports are still facing operational challenges, most notably the poor efficiency in the procedures, and the presence of non -professional practices such as using the audio appeal to take off and land, and manual inspection of bags in a way that exposes them to damage, in addition to asking unnecessary questions to passengers by customs employees, despite the presence of modern electronic systems that reveal the contents of luggage.
He stressed that the tourist is primarily concerned with the smoothness of entry, exit and good procedures, noting that some government agencies are the first to violate the organized procedures. He called for specialized companies to manage airport management in a comprehensive manner, including passport procedures, with the police role limited to the back control, without direct interference in dealing with travelers.
Idris stressed that the involvement of the private sector in airport management will contribute to accelerating the procedures and providing qualified employees who are proficient in multiple languages, which enhances the ability of Egyptian airports to absorb tourists of various nationalities, and achieve positive results in stimulating the tourism sector and increasing travel movement.
In the same context, Eng. Mohamed Said, the former president of the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, expressed his support for the government plan, indicating a briefly in a statement to Al -Jazeera Net that “this plan will take its fruits in favor of the state.”
