French Transport Minister: Egyptian-French aviation cooperation has growing prospects, and the choice of the A320neo reflects Air Cairo's confidence in Airbus solutions
On the first day of the second edition of the El Alamein International Aerospace Show (EIAS 2026), the Egyptian-French partnership in air transport took a new step, as Egypt's Minister of Civil Aviation Dr. Sameh El Hefny and French Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot witnessed Air Cairo's signing of a contract for 30 new Airbus A320neo aircraft, supporting the growth of the airline's fleet, raising its operational capacity and expanding its presence in regional and international markets.
The contract was signed by Hussein Sherif, Chairman of Air Cairo, and Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus Africa and Middle East, in the presence of Eric Chevallier, French Ambassador in Cairo; Mark Bryson-Richardson, British Ambassador in Cairo; Wouter van Wersch, Executive Vice President International at Airbus; and a number of civil aviation leaders.
The contract is part of Air Cairo's plan to grow its fleet and increase its operational capacity by expanding aircraft ownership alongside leased aircraft, giving the airline greater flexibility in managing its fleet and implementing its growth plans in the coming years.
Dr. Sameh El Hefny said the contract for the new aircraft is an important step in Air Cairo's growth and reflects the Egyptian civil aviation sector's drive to develop airlines' operational capabilities and improve fleet efficiency in line with growing demand for air transport.
El Hefny explained that the expansion is part of the Ministry of Civil Aviation's strategy to increase the capacity of the air transport sector and support plans to boost air and tourist traffic, by expanding air connectivity with regional and international markets and opening new horizons for access to Egyptian tourist destinations.
The minister noted that fleet growth is a key pillar enabling airlines to keep pace with rising demand and strengthen their presence in target markets, supporting the competitiveness of the civil aviation sector and serving the state's goals for growing tourism.
For his part, French Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot said the new contract reflects the strength of the Egyptian-French partnership in civil aviation and the growing cooperation between institutions and companies in the air transport sector in both countries, noting that Air Cairo's choice of the A320neo reflects its confidence in the efficiency of Airbus solutions and their ability to meet the needs of its next growth phase.
Hussein Sherif, Chairman of Air Cairo, said the contract marks a new milestone in the airline's strategy to grow its fleet and expand its business, explaining that combining owned and leased aircraft provides greater operational flexibility in managing the fleet and responding to changes in demand.
He noted that the A320neo aircraft will provide additional capacity to support increased operations and the opening of new destinations, in line with growing demand for travel to and from Egypt, supporting tourism and air transport.
For his part, Gabriel Semelas said Air Cairo's first direct acquisition of A320neo aircraft reflects the airline's confidence in the type and its ability to meet the requirements of its next growth phase, thanks to its operational efficiency and flexibility suited to the airline's plans.
The A320neo offers high operational efficiency, cutting fuel consumption and carbon emissions by around 20% compared with the previous generation of Airbus aircraft, along with operational flexibility and a cabin design that offers good levels of comfort and capacity in the single-aisle category.
Air Cairo's fleet growth plan is part of an integrated strategy to introduce modern aircraft and raise fleet efficiency, helping to bring the fleet's average age down to around 5.5 years, with a target of reaching 82 aircraft within the next 4 years, alongside growing its network and increasing operations.
