CAIRO - The Ministry of Civil Aviation has put the final touches to plans for AVEX, the international exhibition of civil aviation, in Sharm el-Sheikh scheduled for November 7. In a press conference, Ibrahim Manaa, the Chairman of the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, said that the three-day exhibition was a good opportunity for major international airlines, airports and aircraft-manufacturing companies to discuss future co-operation and deals. Manaa explained that the show would take place across 4, 000 square metres, an increase of 45 per cent in size. Egyptian official confirmed that AVEX in Sharm el-Sheikh was part of an ambitious marketing policy by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to increase travel to and within Egypt. Manaa disclosed that travels in the first half of this year had increased by 17 per cent over last year. He attributed this success to concerted efforts by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in Egypt to increase tourist trips. "The passenger capacity of Egypt's airports will grow to 80 million by 2014, from 57 million at present," said the chairman of the holding company. According to his press statement, civil aviation decision-makers and senior officials in Africa and the Middle East will hold a summit on the sideline of AVEX to examine all issues of mutual interest, including the future of civil aviation industry in Africa. Engineer Hussein Massoud, the chairman of the EgyptAir Holding Company, elaborated on efforts to guarantee the success of AVEX. Massoud acknowledged support given by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to upgrade the potentials of this strategic sector. "Thanks to the undivided support we have had from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, EgyptAir has strongly participated in the fierce competition in international skies," Engineer Massoud declared, also paying tribute to the expansions in EgyptAir's basic infrastructure and future vision. "The team spirit is now one of the basic features of civil aviation sector in Egypt," he emphasised. Engineer Hussein Massoud described AVEX as an international window on the state-of-the-art technology associated with the civil aviation industry internationally and regionally. "The fame AVEX enjoys has encouraged major international airline companies to book their places and exhibit their potentials and future strategies," he noted. EgyptAir will offer low-cost trips to Sharm el-Sheikh on November 1-15 as well as special tourist programmes on EgyptAir Tourism Company, well-known as Karnak and all the information will be available at EgyptAir's offices at home and overseas. "We are optimistic that these programmes will motivate a larger number of visitors to fly to Egypt and visit the exhibits in AVEX," he said. Engineer Hussein Massoud also announced that EgyptAir, in collaboration with Karnak, had decided to fly round trips every day from Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh to give citizens and guests the opportunity to visit AVEX and its features. Scot Rajesdal, the chairman of Nasiba, the organiser of AVEX, said that this year's show had been divided into five main areas, which included Expo, the exhibition of aircraft, the exhibition of private jets, the aviation unit, and the entertainment tent. About 85 exhibitors and main sponsors will take part in this year's AVEX. Nasiba's chairman also said that the entertainment programme would include aerobatics by the Silver Stars, which belongs to the Egyptian Air Force. "The Red Bull and the Jordanian Hawks will also stage aerobatics during AVEX," he added. El-Habib Fakih, the chairman of Airbus in the Middle East Area, also announced during the press conference that the giant Airbus 380 would make its debut at the Sharm el-Sheikh airport during AVEX. "Sharm el-Sheikh airport is the third, following Cairo International Airport and Johannesburg Airport in South Africa, to receive Airbus 380," Fakih said. He also announced that international airlines that were flying the giant Airbus 380 had decided upon the Sharm el-Sheikh airport for emergency landing. Yussri Gamal Eddin, the chairman of the Egyptian Company for Airports, revealed at the press conference an ambitious plan for upgrading airports across the nation. Gamal Eddin also disclosed new marketing policies, according to which contacts with different international and regional airliners would be intensified. "The fresh marketing policies will help increase aviation activities," he added. Explaining the development of activities in different airports in Egypt, Gamal Eddin said that over the past five years, the number of passengers increased from 14.232 million to 14.588 million in 2006 and 17.452 million in 2007. "The number of passengers, who used airports in Egypt, increased to 20.644 million in 2008," he said, confessing that the international financial crisis had a negative impact in this respect. But he predicted that the number of passengers would increase to 20.944 million in 2010.
