New expansion works for Cairo Airport
Egypt, Economics, 3/12/2001

Minister of Information Safwat AL Sherif said that the two-hour ministerial meeting chaired by President Hosni Mubarak Sunday was devoted to discussing of a plan and map of important airports in Egypt, priorities and urgent stages of development and the situation as regards the process of development and modernization .

In statements to reporters after the meeting, Safwat Al Sherif said that the first subject was the modernization and development of Cairo International Airport and supplying it with equipment, buildings and services".

Al Sherif said that the second stage of development includes setting up a new additional building for passengers and a new navigation runway to serve the increasing air traffic.

AL Sherif said that a feasibility study has been completed. President Mubarak issued several directives in this connection as follows:

- To make maximum use of available land

- To allocate the necessary additional land immediately and to add them within the limits of the present Cairo international airport. The addition should be made at once and the necessary decisions should be issued within 48 hours.

- The Ministry of Transport will define roads leading to the airport after adding expansions marked on survey maps submitted.

- International tenders will be invited to carry out the project of development and modernization of Cairo international airport in two stages in a manner which allows the participation of foreign capital, in fixed percentage, to allow for modernization, operation and administration in accordance with the laws of the state.

- Conditions of the international tender will be submitted at a future meeting with the president after it had been referred to the council of ministers.

- The Civil Aviation Authority, in collaboration with the Cairo governorate, will define buildings which have exceeded heights and which might affect the project to build a new passengers terminal and the new runway.

-Safety map around Cairo international airport shall be drawn up together with all the surrounding areas. Building permits shall not be issued in the areas to be fixed on the map which might affect air traffic, expansion and modernization, at present and in future.

-Building permits should be issued with the approval of the civil aviation authority.

president Mubarak issued directives to lay down a timetable to carry out the President's previous directives as regards the modernization and administration of the cargo village after an international company has drawn up a complete study of development.

A timetable for execution and modernization should be submitted to the President.

Safwat AL Sherif said that President Mubarak asked at the ministerial meeting to update the feasibility studies regarding the building of a new international airport west of Cairo.

The feasibility studies indicate that the cost of this airport may reach 3 billion pounds.

The feasibility study and conditions of the general tender should be offered under the system of participation with foreign capital under the BOT (Build-operate-transfer) system.

AL Sherif said President Mubarak approved a draft Republican decree to turn the Civil Aviation Authority into a holding company.

President Mubarak also agreed to turn the Civil Aviation Institute into a Civil Aviation Academy in a manner compatible with the scientific level and in accordance with international standards.

the project should be self-financed from the revenues of fees paid by trainees without burdening the state with any cost.

Safwat AL Sherif said that President Mubarak reviewed and discussed a map of airports and the civil aviation service in tourist areas with the aim of fixing the stages of present and future modernization and development. The following steps were approved:

- To complete current expansions in services at Hurghada airport as regards the building, halls and services which facilitate the movement of passengers.

- To complete expansions at Sharm AL Sheikh airport as regards departure and arrival halls, new halls, and services buildings which are being set up at present.

- To complete current expansions at luxor airport to facilitate movement and remove bottlenecks in the movement of tourists at present.

- The government shall provide the remaining appropriations to complete current expansions at the three airports which should be completed according to timetables before the end of this year.

AL Sherif said that as regards future stages, the following steps were approved:

- To fix the cost of the expansion and modernization of Hurghada Airport through the building of a second additional passengers terminal and a new runway to serve the increasing tourist traffic expected in the coming years. The projects will be offered in the light of completing the preliminary financing study.

- As regards Luxor airport, it is requested to present a feasibility study which is being completed to set up a new passengers terminal and a new runway to raise the standard of the airport to the standard of international service.

- To ask the armed forces to make a survey to fix a suitable place to build a new airport to serve the tourist areas between Hurghada and Mersa Alam.

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