Surplus jumps THE NATIONAL carrier EgyptAir has recently announced a remarkable achievement, reaching a recordable surplus of LE695.1 million for the fiscal year 2007/2008. Last week, the airlines' General Assembly, headed by Aviation Minister Ahmad Shafiq, held a session to ratify the annual financial report. EgyptAir Chairman and CEO Tawfiq Assi briefed the GA members on the developing process within the airline. "Comparing to the previous fiscal year, we have achieved a growth of 20 per cent, LE116.5 million. Meanwhile we successfully carried out all operational requirements, fulfilled every financial commitment, as well as implementing ambitious projects to create new jobs and ensure our staff is generously paid." Assi's statements have been welcomed by Central Bank Governor Farouq Al-Oqda who confirmed the airline's achievement for the last year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Early prepare for Omra season THIS WEEK Egypt hosted the 10th International Meeting on Pilgrims' Services with more than 200 Saudi and Egyptian tour companies taking part in the three-day conference. Saudi Ambassador Hisham Al-Nazer and his top assistants attended the opening session. "The participating companies are targeting more coordination and cooperation between those who bring the pilgrims and those who offer the service," explained Abdel-Azeem Al-Amir, EgyptAir's spokesman for the event. "For the last Hajj season in 2008, EgyptAir transported 200,000 passengers during Omra and 162,000 passengers during the pilgrimage season. We are here to handle early arrangements for the 2009 Omra season scheduled to be launched next month and lasting till the holy month of Ramadan," Al-Amir added. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LSG in a new partnership LUFTHANZA's catering branch LSG has just signed a triple contract to establish a new catering company to serve airlines operating in Egypt. Lufthansa's LSG, Egyptian Aviation Services (EAS) and EgyptAir Inflight-Services have formed a new entity LSG SKY CHEF EGYPT that would dominate the business of catering in Cairo International Airport. The paid-in capital for the new company is $10 million, of which EgyptAir owns 70 per cent, giving it the upper hand in controlling the business. Lufthansa takes 15 per cent, the same share as EAS. Management however will be in the hands of LSG which will operate the catering units in Cairo International and provide the services under the prestigious logo of LSG. LSG Deputy Chairman for Operations Tomas Nigel explained that the new company will serve the flights of all Star Alliance airline members that operate to Egypt, including the national carrier EgyptAir. According to Abdel-Salam Helmi, chairman of EgyptAir's In-flight Services Company (EISC), the new entity replaces both LSG and EAS, which will manage their catering business in Egypt as part of the joint venture," explained Helmi. Helmi explained that the international catering business is controlled by five key players, and LSG alone controls the biggest market share at 38 per cent. As for EgyptAir staff, about 40 per cent of them will join the new company after being re-trained. EISC supplies 43,000 meals daily for 60 flights operated by 16 Egyptian and European airlines at Egyptian airports.
