EgyptAir has announced plans to double its fleet to 100 aircraft by 2025 as tourism within the region slowly returns. Two weeks ago, the airline took delivery of its first Airbus A220-300, making it the first A220 operator in the Middle East and the sixth airline to operate the type worldwide. The airline is expecting a second example in October.
An EgyptAir official told AINonline that its 12 A220-300s on order will serve regional and domestic destinations. She added that the airline is due to receive 15 A320neos by late 2020. These will replace the airline’s old A320ceos.
The airline currently serves 72 domestic and international destinations and is preparing to launch a further service to Hangzhou, China.
Having suffered considerable losses following the Arab Spring, which swept across the Middle East and North Africa in 2011, EgyptAir has also had to cope with a drop-in tourism activity due to terrorist attacks in the region. This was further compounded by the British and Russian governments imposing a travel ban to the nation, which badly affected the airline.
However, the situation has improved in recent years and Egypt’s Ministry of Aviation has upgraded the security facilities at all Egyptian airports. As a result, the airline returned to profitability in its 2017-2018 fiscal year, giving the airline and its executives confidence to go ahead with a fleet renewal.
