CAIRO - Minister of Civil Aviation Ibrahim Manaa has recently conferred with private airline owners to discuss their needs and demands, as they face bankruptcy due to reduced passenger and tourist numbers since the January 25 revolution. The owners asked for the Ministry's support, hoping they could overcome the current crisis. In response, the Minister postponed their debt payments that had accumulated since January 25 by three months. He also granted a three-month 50 per cent discount on landing fees. The Minister promised the company owners to look into their other wishes and asked them to work together. But Mannaa rejected a 50 per cent cut to departure fees, estimated at $15 per passenger. Mannaa asked the company owners to keep their employees and not reduce their work force. Big business for Boeing It looks as if the year 2011 was smiling at the US Boeing Company, while acting against its competitor, the European Company Airbus. Airbus was beating Boeing over the past few years, but this year the tables are turned. The decline started, when Kuwait Airlines announced that Airbus wanted to check five aircraft, due to observations and notices submitted to the engineering department of the company. This led Kuwait Airlines to suspend Airbus planes. Emirates Airlines let four aircraft A380 to a company in Guernsey via a 12-year leasing contract. This could be considered a clear sign that Emirates Airlines failed to operate this aircraft, although it received only four planes out of the 90 it ordered. The coming period is bound to see big business for Boeing at the expense of Airbus.
EGS overcomes crisis EgyptAir Ground Services employees were role models in patriotism and commitment to the national carrier during the recent crisis. They were keen to be present throughout the days of the revolution, enabling EgyptAir to offer its services to air carriers in Egyptian airports. Chairman of EgyptAir Ground Services Abdel Hamid Eid has praised the employees' commitment. The company offered ground service over the last few weeks to around 941 EgyptAir flights, 1,410 foreign air carrier flights, amounting to 2,351 domestic and international flights.
MEA to join SkyTeam SkyTeam announced that Lebanon's Middle East Airlines will sign an agreement Monday, officially starting the process to become a member of the alliance in 2012. MEA is the second Middle East carrier agreeing this month to join SkyTeam, following Saudi Arabia Airlines. “SkyTeam works actively on strengthening its presence in the Middle East, one of the world's most important economic regions,” the alliance said in a statement. “MEA will be a valuable addition to the alliance by offering customers increased access to the Middle East and Western Africa.” EgyptAir at Milan Fair EgyptAir participated at the Milan Fair, one of major travel and tourism exhibitions in Europe earlier this month. It was attended by 145, 000 exhibitors, representing 150 countries. EgyptAir Chairman Ayman Nasr said that the participation was part of the carrier's marketing plans, intending to regain it's clients after the decline in passenger numbers since the January 25 revolution. On the sidelines of the fair, EgyptAir signed an agreement with Best Tours, a major Italian tour company and travel agency specialising on Egypt for 30 years. This agreement will enable 2000 tourists to visit Egypt this summer. EgyptAir Regional Manager Wael Kadry signed the contract with the manager of Best Tours, in the presence of Ashraf Rashed, Egypt's Ambassador to Rome, and Hatem Mahmoud, Manager of the EgyptAir office in Milan.
Lufthansa's new record Lufthansa's frequent flyer programme, Miles & More, has set a new record with 20 million members from 234 countries; about a third from Germany. On average, 5,000 new members sign up for the programme on any given day. Miles & More cards are used 150,000 times daily across the globe. About 1.7 million awards get redeemed annually. Miles & More has over 250 partners, with which members can accrue or redeem air mile credits. It is worth mentioning that thousands of Egyptians enjoy Miles & More memberships.
