EgyptAir’s next chapter: A focus on China
EgyptAir, the Official Partner Airline of ITB China 2025, is expanding its network to meet the rising demand for travel between Egypt and China
In this exclusive interview, ITB China News spoke with Mr Khaled Fouad, EgyptAir General Manager China, about the airline’s participation at the show this year and its overall strategy for China and beyond.
How important is the Chinese market to EgyptAir, and what steps are you taking to strengthen connectivity between Egypt and China?
The Chinese tourism and travel market is the biggest in the world so we give it special attention and care. This can be seen by the fact that we service China with 16 weekly flights, connecting Egypt to Guangzhou, Beijing, Hanghzou and Shanghai. We are also working closely with other Chinese carriers to meet the growing demand for travel to Egypt.
Are there any new routes or flight expansions planned to meet the growing demand from Chinese travellers?
We have a long-term plan to add more destinations from airports in China to Cairo International Airport for both tourism and business travellers and this is one of the reasons we recently ordered ten A350-900, the world’s newest wide-body aircraft, with the first expected to be delivered by the end of this year.
We have continued to increase our destinations and frequencies to China to provide easier and quicker transit time for Chinese tourists to domestic points in Egypt as well as international destinations
Beyond route expansion, are you exploring any new partnerships or collaborations in China to enhance travel between the two countries?
Since our first route to China in 2004 to Beijing and the most recent to Shanghai in November 2023, we have continued to increase our destinations and frequencies to China. We have also planned our domestic network to connect the most popular historical and recreational sites (Luxor, Aswan Haggadah and Sharm Elsheikh) to provide easier and quicker transit time for Chinese tourists to domestic points in Egypt as well as international destinations.
We are also working with operators, travel agencies, OTAs such as C-trip and other large Chinese corporations like Huawei and Xiaomi.
In your opinion, how will international air travel evolve over the next few years? How is EgyptAir anticipating these changes?
The air transport industry is a rapidly evolving and changing industry. At the same time, it is very fragile and its visibility can be greatly affected by one day and the political, military and economic dynamics of the world. That’s why EgyptAir always takes measures that are well-considered and balanced with respect to the destinations we fly to and works to increase and update its fleet to adapt to these successive global variables.
EgyptAir and ITB China 2025: A strategic partnership for global reach
As the Official Partner Airline of ITB China 2025, EgyptAir is aiming to bring mutual value to the show and bolster the airline’s profile on the international stage.
“Being chosen to be the official partner airline of ITB China 2025 is no coincidence,” says EgyptAir’s General Manager for China. “This is our second consecutive participation at the show. Both our successful institutions add value and strengthen each other in our respective fields.”
The partnership coincides with EgyptAir’s 93rd anniversary, marking a legacy that began in 1932. As the first airline in Africa and the Middle East to join the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — and the seventh worldwide — EgyptAir has long played a pioneering role in global aviation. A member of Star Alliance since 2008, the carrier currently serves around 70 destinations across both domestic and international routes.
According to the airline, accepting the invitation to partner with ITB China was a strategic decision. “ITB China is one of the most successful entities in China and globally to organise specialised exhibitions in the travel, tourism, transportation and aviation industry,” explains Mr Fouad. EgyptAir aims to leverage its role as Official Partner Airline to spotlight Egypt’s aviation capabilities among global tourism and travel professionals.
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埃及航空的新征程：聚焦中国市场
作为2025 ITB China的官方航司合作伙伴，埃及航空正不断拓展航线网络，以满足中埃之间日益增长的旅行需求。
埃及航空中国区总经理Khaled Fouad先生在接受ITB China News的专访时，详细介绍了埃及航空今年在展会上的参展亮点，以及面向中国和更广泛国际市场的整体战略。
在埃及航空的全球战略中，中国市场占据怎样的位置？贵司将采取哪些举措来加强中埃之间的航线和互联互通？
中国是全球最大的出境旅游市场，因此一直是埃及航空重点关注和深耕布局的市场。我们目前每周运营16个航班，连接广州、北京、杭州和上海等中国主要城市。同时，我们还与多加中国航司展开紧密合作，携手满足中国游客赴埃及日益增长的出行需求。
为满足中国旅客日益增长的需求，埃及航空是否有计划新增航线或扩充航班？
我们已制定长期规划，计划在中国多个机场新增直飞开罗国际机场的航线，全面满足中国游客和商务出行的多样化需求。基于此战略，我们近期订购了10架全球最新一代宽体客机A350-900，首架预计在今年年底交付，进一步助力拓展航线布局。
“埃及航空持续增加飞往中国的航点和班次，旨在为中国游客提供更高效、畅达的中转体验，让他们能轻松抵达埃及各地以及更多国际目的地。”
除了航线拓展，埃及航空是否也在中国积极寻求新的合作伙伴和合作形式，以进一步促进中埃之间的旅游合作？
自2004年开通首条北京航线以来，直至2023年11月开通上海航线，埃及航空持续拓展在中国的航点和航班频次。同时，埃及航空还优化了国内航线布局，覆盖卢克索、阿斯旺、哈加达和沙姆沙伊赫等世界著名的历史文化与度假胜地，方便中国游客快速中转至更多国内外目的地。此外，埃及航空正积极与中国运营商、旅行社及OTA平台（如携程）以及华为、小米等企业展开合作，共同推动中埃旅游合作的深入发展。
您如何看待未来几年国际航空出行的发展趋势？埃及航空又将如何积极应对？
航空运输业正处于快速变化的浪潮之中，同时也面临着地缘政治、经济形势等多方变量的考验。正因如此，埃及航空始终以深思熟虑、审慎平衡的方式稳步前行，持续优化航点布局，并通过机队的更新换代，灵活应对全球航空市场的变化趋势。
埃及航空与2025 ITB China：携手共创全球互联新篇章
作为2025 ITB China的官方航司合作伙伴，埃及航空希望借助这一国际化平台实现互利共赢，进一步提升在全球市场的品牌影响力。
埃及航空中国区总经理表示：“我们能被选为ITB China 2025的官方航司合作伙伴，绝非偶然。这是我们连续第二年亮相该展会。两个成功的品牌将携手共进，推动彼此在各自领域的共同成长与突破。”
这次合作恰逢埃及航空成立93周年。自1932年成立以来，埃及航空不仅是非洲和中东首家加入国际航空运输协会（IATA）的航司，也是全球第七家，始终在全球航空版图中扮演着先锋角色。自2008年加入星空联盟以来，埃及航空的航线网络已覆盖全球及埃及国内的70多个目的地。
据埃及航空介绍，成为ITB China官方航司合作伙伴是其深思熟虑的战略选择。埃及航空中国区总经理Fouad先生表示：“ITB China是中国乃至全球最成功的专业旅游、交通和航空展会平台之一。”借助这一官方合作身份，埃及航空将全力展示埃及在全球旅游业界的航空实力与服务优势，向国际旅游从业者展现埃航品牌的专业形象。
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