Photo courtesy of the Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency
In meetings with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny, El-Sisi discussed flight cancellations and changes in air routes affecting Egyptian airlines, according to the presidency.
El-Sisi also held a second meeting with El-Hefny, Major General Walid Aref, head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, Major General Khaled Abdullah, head of the Armed Forces Financial Affairs Authority, and Sohair Abdullah, chairwoman of EgyptAir In-Flight Services Company.
Authorities are monitoring the wider implications of the conflict for the aviation sector as airlines across the Middle East adjust routes and schedules.
The meetings also reviewed a series of airport development projects, including plans to expand capacity at Cairo International Airport.
Officials discussed progress on the airport’s planned Terminal 4, which is intended to significantly increase passenger capacity and strengthen Cairo’s role as a regional aviation hub.
Upgrades are also underway at airports in Luxor, Alexandria, and El Alamein, while authorities are planning a new passenger terminal at Capital International Airport.
Additional projects include the establishment of St Catherine International Airport and El-Arish International Airport.
Officials also discussed plans to privatize the management and operation of Egyptian airports as part of broader efforts to attract local and foreign investment into the aviation sector.
The talks reviewed the performance of EgyptAir and the financial results of its holding company for the 2024/2025 fiscal year, as well as plans to modernize airport operations through digital systems aimed at improving efficiency and passenger services.
Authorities are working with the Interior Ministry to expand the use of electronic passport gates at Cairo International Airport and gradually phase out the paper arrival card system.
El-Sisi also called for further development of EgyptAir, urging officials to expand the airline’s fleet, improve operational efficiency, and upgrade passenger services.
Officials also examined construction work at the transit hotel in Terminal 3 at Cairo International Airport.
Plans for Terminal 4 at Cairo International Airport form part of a broader strategy to expand the country’s aviation capacity.
The new terminal is expected to handle about 30 million passengers annually, potentially raising the airport’s overall capacity to around 60 to 65 million passengers a year.
Estimated to cost about $4.5 billion, the project is expected to take roughly four years to complete and will include a new passenger terminal, aircraft stands, operational facilities, and upgraded navigation systems.
Authorities say the expansion will also include a new runway, larger aircraft parking areas, and improved road links to the airport complex.
It will incorporate smart-airport technologies and digital passenger-processing systems to streamline check-in, security, and boarding procedures while improving overall operational efficiency.
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