Egyptair has taken “delivery of its first of 16 Airbus A350‑900 on order, becoming the launch operator for the type in North Africa.” According to Airbus, “the A350 will support the airline’s long‑haul fleet modernisation and network expansion with new non‑stop routes to key destinations including the US West Coast and North Asia, from its Cairo hub.” Egyptair currently operates an Airbus fleet of eight A320neos, seven A321neos and 11 A330 Family aircraft, including five A330-200P2F.”
The Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) confirmed that the aircraft was received at Cairo International Airport by the Minister of Civil Aviation, Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, leaders of the Ministry, the Holding Company of EgyptAir and its subsidiaries.
According to ECAA, the A350 “officially joins EgyptAir’s fleet, where a flight was operated using a combination of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), in a strategic step that represents a new phase in the fleet modernization plan and enhancing its operational capabilities, supporting EgyptAir’s position as a leading national carrier in the region.” Also, on board the aircraft were “the pilot Ahmed Adel, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EgyptAir Holding Company, and the pilot Mohamed Alayan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EgyptAir.”
Airbus said “the A350 is the world’s most modern widebody aircraft, designed to fly up to 9,700 nautical mile/18,000 kilometres non-stop, setting new standards for intercontinental travel. The aircraft includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort.”
According to Rolls-Royce, “the A350 is exclusively powered by the world’s most efficient large civil aeroengine in service, the Trent XWB, which is optimised for long-range operations, delivering lower fuel burn, reduced CO₂ emissions and enhanced environmental performance.”
While congratulating EgyptAir, Senior Vice President – Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, Omar Al Adib said: “the delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 is an important step in the airline’s long-haul expansion.”
Dr. Sameh El-Hefny noted that “the addition of the new aircraft to EgyptAir’s fleet represents a qualitative leap in the process of modernizing the fleet and enhancing the capabilities of the national company.”
Chairman and Executive Managing Director of EgyptAir Holding Company, Pilot Ahmed Adel: “The adoption of this advanced generation of aircraft enhances the flexibility of the company’s network and operational planning, as well as its full compliance with environmental sustainability trends through the ability to operate using a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend, which supports EGYPTAIR’s strategy to shift towards more efficient and sustainable operations in the medium and long term.”