Tell us about EgyptAir's current plans. After a series of losses exceeding LE10 billion over the past four years, the company now aims to increase revenues, reduce costs and enhance the level of in-flight services. We will add six aircraft per year to our fleet, starting this year. The manufacturers have been notified of our needs and specifications. We intend to buy the aircraft through a hire-purchase scheme. Within days we will review all offers and will grant the contract to one of three major companies currently bidding for the deal. EgyptAir has airlifted Egyptians from Libya. Tell us about these evacuation efforts. EgyptAir is a national airlines and not just a business. It has national obligations and it carries them out when is needed. This is the second time the company has operated flights to bring back citizens stranded in Libya. So far, 9,793 Egyptians have been flown back aboard 40 flights. The flights were organized with the Foreign Ministry. When will EgyptAir be able to reverse its recent losses? There will be a strong comeback by the end of 2016, when the company's losses will be down to zero. The losses in the second half of the fiscal year 2014-2015 have been reduced by 92 per cent, to about LE 75 million, down from LE1 billion million in the previous year. Tell us about your new sales policy. The company is trying to introduce new sales policies involving the sale of empty seats and variable fare prices according to meals and luggage. Developing the sales policy of the company is a continual process. Will airfares increase for pilgrimage this season? The increase in pilgrimage airfare will not exceed 5 per cent this season for the pilgrims of the lottery and solidarity programmes. The fares offered by tour agencies will depend on the time of travel. The reason for the increase in price is the change in the exchange rates. Will EgyptAir resume flights to Tokyo? The company is coordinating with the Ministry of Tourism to resume flights to Tokyo. The operation of new lines depends on their economic feasibility, so EgyptAir is looking into flying to some destinations in collaboration with other airlines. Despite the drop in fuel prices, airfares remain the same. Why is that? The airfares do not depend on the price of fuel alone. There are other elements of cost. Fuel represents 30 to to 33 per cent of the total cost, so it might go up and down without having much impact on the fares. We are now in an agreement with oil companies to fix the price for a longer period, so as to eliminate fluctuations in the short term. The price of the ticket depends on the demand for a certain destination and differs from one flight to another according to the type of passengers, the seat occupancy, the length of the trip and the season. Changes in exchange rates can also lead to increased costs. After years of EgyptAir being part of Star Alliance, what has the national carrier gained? There are numerous advantages to being a member of Star Alliance. One is that member companies have access to more destinations. Another is that the frequent-flyer mileage is added for travellers using any of the member companies. The membership also helps boost the level of services on EgyptAir flights, which are regularly monitored every three months. EgyptAir sales to other members of Star Alliance increased by 73 per cent between 2007-2008 and 2013-2014. EgyptAir sold nearly 71 per cent of its seats to Star Alliance companies in 2013-2014. The quality of services to EgyptAir clients has improved through standardisation, and also because there are more than 1,000 lounges for passengers available in various airports. Through the exchange of expertise, EgyptAir employees have the chance to take part in training programmes in various fields. Star Alliance also monitors threats to air transport, including competition from low-cost companies, open-sky policies and mergers. EgyptAir has engaged the services of Sabre Airline Solutions, a Texas-based consultancy company. Tell us about that. There is no airline that operates without the help of a consultancy company. Aviation is a fast-changing business, and the consultants help define the goals and needs of airline companies in various phases. Sabre was chosen through an open bidding process, with the tender determined by a committee that included all subsidiaries of the EgyptAir Holding Company. All the international companies who took part in the bidding had solid expertise and previous dealings with EgyptAir. The consultants review employee data, current programmes, destinations, the general culture and current service contracts. They review the sources of revenue and spending and streamline all the above according to the company's needs. A new system has been introduced in which the consultancy company bears a percentage of the risk. The consultancy contract is for 18 months, with the aim of reversing EgyptAir losses within two years. The consultants will work on three stages over a period of five years. Tell us about EgyptAir's Africa operations. Our national carrier is greatly interested in expanding its network in Africa. We have agreed to activate the open-sky agreement, known as the Yamoussoukro Decision, which covers all countries in Africa. The mechanism for such action will be decided through a committee that African ministers of transport and aviation recently held in Tanzania. EgyptAir is now looking, with Sabre's assistance, into flying to various African cities. How did EgyptAir contribute to the success of the economic conference in Sharm El-Sheikh? EgyptAir ran 162 domestic flights from Cairo to Sharm El-Sheikh during the conference. EgyptAir PR, security, airport and maintenance teams operated in both Cairo and Sharm El-Sheikh to ensure the speedy processing of delegations. The number of workers was increased in both airports to cope with the increased passenger traffic. The Ministry of Civil Aviation proposed a major project, called Airport City, at the conference. For its part, EgyptAir met representatives of banks and financial organisation to discuss funding for its various projects.
