Capital International Airport in the New Administrative Capital received the first Smartwings flight from Bratislava International Airport in Slovakia, operated by a Boeing 737-800 with 152 tourists on board, marking the start of a direct, regular air route between Slovakia and Egypt during the summer season.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that the airline is scheduled to operate one weekly flight on Wednesdays, totaling 23 flights until next October 31, in a step that represents a strong boost for European tourist traffic to Egypt and opens new horizons for cooperation between airlines and Egyptian airports with high operational readiness.
Capital International Airport is one of Egypt's newest airports, featuring a modern design, a runway equipped to receive large aircraft and a passenger terminal that can handle more than 300 passengers per hour, in addition to its strategic location linking it to several main traffic corridors serving the New Administrative Capital and neighboring cities, making it a promising hub for international aviation.
In this context, Minister of Civil Aviation Dr. Sameh El-Hefny said: “We are keen to drive air traffic and attract more tourists arriving at Egyptian airports, so that it becomes a new gateway for receiving air traffic from European markets. The airport is expected to see more direct flight routes from various capitals in the coming period.”
The Minister of Civil Aviation pointed to the developmental dimension adopted by the political leadership in expanding the construction and development of Egyptian airports, given its direct impact on supporting the national economy, boosting air traffic and easing the operational pressure on Cairo International Airport. He affirmed that this strategic vision reflects the state's awareness of the importance of the aviation sector as an integrated engine of development serving various sectors and supporting Egypt's regional and international standing, noting that Capital International Airport embodies the Egyptian state's vision of building an integrated transport system that supports tourism and economic growth and helps consolidate Egypt's position as a regional hub for travel and aviation in the Middle East and Africa, in line with the goals of sustainable development and the principles of the New Republic.
