Minister of Civil Aviation Dr. Sameh El-Hefny revealed the preparations of the aviation sector, led by Sphinx International Airport, to receive the guests taking part in the official opening celebration of the Grand Egyptian Museum on the coming November 1, an international event drawing the world's attention to Egypt.
As part of following up on preparations for the event, the Ministry of Civil Aviation today organized an extensive inspection tour of Sphinx International Airport for aviation reporters, in coordination with the Egyptian Airports Company. The tour stems from the vital role played by Sphinx International Airport as a strategic gateway linking west Cairo with archaeological and tourist areas, especially the Giza Pyramids area and the Grand Egyptian Museum, enhancing its growing importance as a global civilizational project preparing to receive millions of visitors from around the world.
The meeting was attended by Captain Montaser Manaa, Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation; Captain Ahmed Adel, Chairman of EgyptAir Holding Company; Eng. Ayman Arab, Chairman of the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation; Captain Ezzat Metwally, President of the Egyptian Aviation Academy; and Captain Wael El-Nashar, head of the Egyptian Airports Company.
The media delegation was accompanied during the tour by Captain Wael El-Nashar and Captain Ashraf Sadek, Director of Sphinx International Airport, where the airport's readiness to receive official delegations and Egypt's guests coming to attend the museum's opening was reviewed.
The civil aviation reporters were briefed on the airport's modern capabilities and shown the design of the passenger terminal, which combines the ancient Pharaonic style with modern architecture, through columns decorated with Pharaonic inscriptions and murals depicting features of ancient Egyptian civilization, in harmony with spacious glass facades reflecting a spirit of openness and the future, giving visitors an integrated experience that begins from the moment of arrival.
They also inspected the level of services provided to passengers in line with the highest standards of safety and operational quality, followed the procedures applied during departure and arrival, and checked the readiness of the departure and arrival halls (international and domestic), VIP lounges, the duty-free area, cafeterias and quarantine gates, in addition to following up on passport and customs services, catering, meteorology and baggage belts, ensuring smooth movement inside the airport in preparation for this major global event.
During his meeting with civil aviation reporters at Sphinx International Airport following the inspection tour, Dr. Sameh El-Hefny reviewed the final preparations and arrangements for the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum to receive Egypt's guests coming from around the world to attend the opening ceremony, stressing that the Ministry of Civil Aviation is harnessing all its logistical, technical and human capabilities to ensure the success of this historic global event, which is being widely followed worldwide, so that it is presented in an honorable manner befitting Egypt's stature.
In this context, the minister noted that the sector is working around the clock to provide an exceptional travel experience for Egypt's guests befitting the greatness of the event and the Egyptian state's ancient history, with maximum readiness and full coordination with all state agencies to ensure smooth operations and flexible aircraft and passenger movement at Egyptian airports, especially at Cairo and Sphinx international airports.
The Minister of Civil Aviation said preparations for the event include planning to accommodate aircraft traffic, including presidential and royal aircraft of guests taking part in the celebration, alongside scheduled and tourist flights, by increasing aircraft parking stands, as well as civil-military coordination to use another airport under the supervision of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, covering aircraft services, preparation of the surrounding area, maintenance, ground services, air traffic control and others, noting that "we do not yet have a final, specific number of guests."
The Minister of Civil Aviation added that Cairo International Airport is also preparing to receive guests' aircraft in case Sphinx Airport cannot accommodate the number of incoming flights, and that Alexandria's airport in Borg El Arab and the New Administrative Capital Airport will also be on standby for any emergencies.
El-Hefny stressed that all scenarios for the civil aviation sector's service of this historic event will be handled with complete professionalism and in coordination with all relevant bodies, pointing out that Sharm El-Sheikh Airport, during the city's hosting of the "Peace Summit," was a tough rehearsal for what Sphinx Airport will witness on opening day, as it successfully received 200 aircraft in a single day, including presidential aircraft requiring changes in air traffic, alongside heavy inbound tourist traffic to the city, with aircraft movements monitored from on site at the airport to check on and follow up all services.
In a related context, the Minister of Civil Aviation said EgyptAir is the official sponsor of the Grand Egyptian Museum opening event, whose image has been placed on one of its aircraft to contribute to global publicity.
The Minister of Civil Aviation conducted an inspection tour of Sphinx International Airport to ensure that all services are running in a manner befitting Egypt's tourism stature, and to check the airport's preparations to receive guests of the Grand Egyptian Museum opening celebration.
