By Staff Correspondent
Egypt’s national carrier, Egyptair, is ramping up its operations in India with a strategic focus on transit traffic and potential codeshare partnerships, signifying a concerted effort to tap into one of the world’s most rapidly developing aviation markets.
Strengthening Presence In India
Operating daily between Mumbai and Cairo and having recently launched service from New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, Egyptair is actively positioning itself to capitalise on the rising number of passengers from India flying westwards.
The airline’s August schedule includes 62 return flights between Cairo and Mumbai, providing 9,548 seats, and 33 return flights between Delhi and Cairo, offering 4,686 seats. Its first quarter performance for 2023 saw nearly 22,000 passengers flying between Mumbai and Cairo, as per data from India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Strategising For Transit Traffic & Codeshare Opportunities
Capt. Egyptair’s Chairman and CEO, Mohamed Moussa, has articulated the airline’s interest in forming codeshare partnerships with Indian carriers. The focus is on connecting Indian passengers to mid-Africa and West Africa via Egypt, with an eye towards collaboration with Indian airlines.
The airline’s country manager, Amr Ali, emphasised the potential for attracting transit traffic from India to Cairo and beyond. “As Egypt Air has a very good connectivity network with a hub in Cairo, we see here in India a very big potential to catch traffic from India to Cairo and beyond Cairo to our network destinations in Africa, North America and Europe,” Ali stated.
Ali also highlighted Egyptair’s distinct offerings as a full-service airline catering to the specific needs of Indian passengers, potentially giving the carrier a competitive edge.
Global Network Growth
Egyptair’s ambitions extend beyond the Indian market. The carrier has launched flights to Manchester, its second UK destination, and announced its return to Japan’s Tokyo Narita International Airport after a three-year hiatus, using its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Furthermore, Egyptair is set to boost regional operations with a new service to Libya’s Misrata International Airport from Cairo.
A Strategic Play In A Post-Pandemic World
Egyptair’s strategic play in India and other global destinations reflects a broader industry trend of airlines leveraging opportunities in emerging markets. The approach is especially pertinent as the sector grapples with the complexities of a post-pandemic recovery.
While competing with Indian players like Air India and IndiGo, Egyptair’s focus on transit traffic, codeshare partnerships, and customer-oriented offerings might carve a distinct space for the carrier in a highly competitive market.
In a world of recovering global travel, Egyptair’s keen interest in India could serve as a significant case study of an airline aligning its growth strategy with shifts in global passenger flows, reflecting an acute understanding of market dynamics and customer needs.
