Aviation minister proposes initiative to establish a specialized center for manufacturing aircraft spare parts in Egypt in partnership with Airbus
Possible participation of French companies in developing Egyptian airport infrastructure discussed as part of plan to offer airports to the private sector by the end of 2025
El-Hefny formally invites French transport minister to take part in the El Alamein International Air Show in 2026
In light of the strong strategic relations between Egypt and France and the two countries' keenness to deepen bilateral cooperation frameworks in various fields, particularly the civil aviation sector, Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation, and Philippe Tabarot, the French Minister of Transport, signed a technical arrangements agreement between the two countries at the headquarters of the Ministry of Transport in the French capital, Paris, on the sidelines of the Egyptian delegation's participation in the 55th edition of the Paris Air Show 2025, one of the most prominent global events specializing in the aviation industry.
The signing ceremony was attended by Ambassador Alaa Youssef, Egypt's Ambassador to France; Amany Metwally, Permanent Undersecretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation; Captain Amr El-Sharkawy, Head of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority; and a number of Egyptian and French officials.
The agreement comes within the framework of the Egyptian political leadership's directives to strengthen international cooperation and the exchange of expertise, contributing to plans to develop the civil aviation sector and enhancing Egypt's position as a leading regional hub for air transport.
Following the signing ceremony, Dr. Sameh El-Hefny affirmed that the signing of this agreement reflects the commitment of the Egyptian and French sides to supporting and strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, noting that the agreement represents a real addition and value in several areas, in line with the best international practices, and enhances the efficiency of this vital sector.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Civil Aviation is pursuing an integrated vision to develop the aviation sector by expanding the scope of technical cooperation with international partners, and stressed that strengthening the partnership with the French side is of great and effective importance to Egypt, given France's long-standing expertise in the air transport industry. He explained that the agreement represents a strategic and effective step toward opening new frameworks for cooperation in the fields of training, air safety, aviation security and sustainability, as well as airports.
The Minister of Civil Aviation praised the distinguished relations between the Egyptian civil aviation sector and Airbus and other major French companies, welcoming this cooperation and describing it as a successful model of fruitful strategic cooperation. He noted that it comes in light of the close and historic relations spanning many years between EgyptAir and Airbus, which have covered numerous areas. EgyptAir was one of the first airlines in the region to add Airbus aircraft to its fleet, starting with the A300-B4, followed by the successive introduction of the latest models, up to the deal for the modern A350 aircraft. The cooperation has also included maintenance and technical training, helping to raise operational efficiency and strengthen the technical capabilities of the company's fleet.
The aviation minister added that Air Cairo has a modern fleet of more than 29 Airbus aircraft, reflecting mutual trust and the ongoing partnership with the global company.
For his part, French Minister Philippe Tabarot expressed his great appreciation for the efforts of the Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation and his keenness to attend and actively take part in the signing ceremony despite the current circumstances and ongoing developments in the region, considering this clear evidence of the Egyptian side's commitment to advancing bilateral relations and strengthening joint cooperation in a vital field such as the civil aviation industry.
He also welcomed the signing of the agreement with Egypt, affirming the strength of the distinguished bilateral relations and the importance of partnership with a pivotal country in the Middle East and Africa. He stressed that cooperation in the civil aviation sector will help address current global challenges, noting that the French side welcomes strengthening cooperation and attracting more investment in the aviation sector, particularly in projects to develop the infrastructure of Egyptian airports, and affirmed the readiness of French companies to contribute effectively in this field, in light of Egypt's future vision of involving the private sector and achieving sustainable development goals.
Separately, the meeting between the Egyptian and French ministers addressed a number of areas of future technical and investment cooperation. Dr. Sameh El-Hefny proposed an initiative to establish a specialized center for manufacturing aircraft spare parts in Egypt in partnership with Airbus, with the aim of boosting local manufacturing, transferring technology and localizing the industry in the region. For his part, the French Minister of Transport welcomed the proposal, affirming that he would work to make it a success.
The two sides also discussed the possibility of French companies taking part in developing the infrastructure of Egyptian airports, as part of the state's plan to involve the private sector in the management and operation of airports while maintaining their public ownership. The Minister of Civil Aviation explained that Egypt is preparing to offer a number of airports to the private sector starting from the end of the current year, in coordination with the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Sameh El-Hefny extended an official invitation to the French minister to take part in the El Alamein International Air Show, scheduled to be held in 2026, stressing that the show is a promising regional and international platform for showcasing the latest aviation technologies and an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between companies and entities involved in the civil aviation industry.
