The spectre of terrorism has haunted Egypt’s aviation industry over recent years but Air Cairo is determined to press on with plans for innovation and growth. Martin Rivers writes for Routes News.
Nile Air will become the first private Egyptian carrier to introduce domestic services within the country when it launches the new three times weekly Cairo – Hurghada and four times weekly Cairo – Sharm el Sheikh starting from July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2016, respectively but it is still expanding its international reach, especially into Saudi Arabia, which remains its main focus market.
Canadian manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace handed over a CSeries to North African carrier Nile Air during this week’s Routes Middle East & Africa forum in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. The CS100 model was presented to Mohamed El Sheriff, revenue and planning manager at the Egyptian carrier on the final morning of the event following its traditional event business card draw on the manufacturer’s stand.
In a major expansion of its network Nile Air is adding three new routes during the first week of June, including a new country market, neighbouring Sudan. The new link between Cairo and Port Sudan will launch on June 6, 2015 and will be operated on a twice weekly basis, Nile Air’s first international service in Africa. It will bring competition and enhanced connectivity to a route currently served on a weekly basis by Sudan Airways.