Nile Air, one of Egypt's leading airlines, took part as a sponsor of the 11th Africa and Indian Ocean Aviation Week (AFI Aviation Week 2026), organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and hosted by Egypt for the first time from 27 to 31 July in Cairo, as part of its commitment to active participation in major international civil aviation events.
Minister of Civil Aviation Dr. Sameh El Hefny opened the conference the day before yesterday, in the presence of ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar; Nena Simon, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy; Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC); and Eng. Khalid El Sharqawi, Director General of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, along with a number of transport and civil aviation ministers, heads of civil aviation authorities, decision-makers, experts, representatives of international and regional organizations, and air transport industry partners from across the continent, in the largest regional gathering dedicated to shaping the future of civil aviation in Africa.
Nile Air is taking part through a stand at the accompanying exhibition, showcasing its services, network of destinations and future vision. It received a number of aviation officials, representatives of international and regional organizations and industry partners, reflecting the airline's commitment to strengthening its presence at international forums and broadening cooperation with all players in the air transport sector.
The exhibition also saw an inspection tour by Minister of Civil Aviation Dr. Sameh El Hefny, accompanied by ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar, AU Commissioner Nena Simon, AFCAC Secretary General Adefunke Adeyemi and ACAO Director General Eng. Khalid El Sharqawi, along with heads of delegations and senior officials, who viewed the stands of participating companies and institutions and the latest technologies, solutions and innovations supporting the development of civil aviation.
During the tour, the minister and the official delegation visited the Nile Air stand, where they reviewed the main services the airline offers, its network of destinations and activities under its expansion plans, and heard a presentation on the airline's development strategy and the new services and initiatives aimed at enhancing the travel experience, strengthening its competitiveness and supporting its growth and expansion in regional and international markets.
Nile Air's sponsorship of this international event stems from its belief in the importance of being present at specialized regional and international platforms, as an opportunity to exchange expertise, strengthen ties with industry partners and keep abreast of the latest global trends and technologies in air transport.
The African aviation week is an important platform for building new partnerships and exploring cooperation opportunities with international institutions and companies, supporting the airline's growth and expansion plans and strengthening its ability to offer more efficient and competitive services in line with global best practices. Egypt's hosting of the event for the first time confirms international confidence in its organizational capabilities and reflects its growing position as a regional civil aviation hub and a key gateway for strengthening cooperation between African countries and air transport industry partners regionally and internationally.
AFI Aviation Week is the most prominent regional meeting organized by ICAO, bringing together decision-makers, experts and executives every year to discuss key strategic and technical issues, led by aviation safety, aviation security, environmental sustainability, digital transformation, the development of air navigation services, airport infrastructure, capacity building and air connectivity, helping to support the future of air transport across Africa.
