Flights to Egypt surge 29 percent in first Half of 2023: Minister

Ahram Online , Thursday 20 Jul 2023

Flights to Egypt have surged by 29 percent between January and June of 2023, reaching a total of 191,000 flights, up from 148,000 during the same period last year, Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Helmy.

FILE PHOTO: Tourists take Luxor-bound EgyptAir flight from Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Egypt October 9, 2019. REUTERS

The number for passengers arriving in the country via air also surged by 43.5 percent in the same period, reaching 23.2 million passengers, up from 16.148 million passengers during the same period in 2022, Helmy revealed in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The minister noted that the surge in flight numbers is the product of the recent modernization plans implemented at the country's airports and the opening of new airports as part of government efforts to position Egypt as a prominent regional and international travel hub.

EgyptAir: Flying high

EgyptAir, the country's national carrier, is set to open several new weekly flights to New Delhi, India as part of the company's growth plans, he said.

EgyptAir is also planning new routes to Misrata, Libya, and Tokyo, Japan, and Newark, New Jersey in the US.

The national carrier has recently introduced routes to Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Manchester, United Kingdom.

A big June

According to Helmy, EgyptAir achieved a notable 12 percent increase in passenger numbers during June 2023, surpassing its performance during the same period last year.

The airline also saw a 77 percent increase in aircraft occupancy rates and a 9 percent rise in the number of flights in June.

Moreover, the seating capacity offered on its flights increased by 24 percent compared to the same month in 2022.