► EGYPT: Prospects for Air Memphis' continued Iran charters fade as Cairo suspends tourism ties with Tehran.

As previously speculated, the change in power in Cairo has led the country to suspend tourism links with Iran for what Minister of Tourism, Hisham Zazou, stated were "reasons of national security". Mr Zazou's statement comes just 5 months after the then Islamist-backed government of Mohammed Morsi reached out to Tehran in a bid to restore relations, severed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

■ EGYPT: Egyptair's revenue has risen 60% on last year's numbers, Cairo Aerocity to get underway soon: Fadel

Egyptair (MS) generated EGP20.7billion (USD3billion) in revenue for its latest 2012/2013 Financial Year, a rise of 63% on that recorded for 2011/2012, Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Abdel Aziz Fadel, has announced. Speaking in Cairo outlining the current state of Egypt's civil aviation industry, Mr Fadel did however concede that, despite the rise in revenue, the airline was still struggling to turn a profit as it is saddled with EGP11.5billion (USD1.7billion) in debt.

► INDONESIA: Fadel confirms Egyptair's new Jakarta route as a request for St. Catherine flights is put in.

Egyptair's (MS) previously outlined plans for a service to the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, are one step closer to reality following a recent meeting between the Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Abdel Aziz Fadel, and Mr Nurfaizi Suwandi, the Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt in which an agreement pertaining to the route (operated via Kuala Lumpur) is set to start operating from December 2.

■ EGYPT: Despite heavy sustained losses, Fadel outlines his longterm vision for Egyptair.

Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr Abdul Aziz Fadel, says the current Egyptian government is determined to map out the future for a New Egypt by leveraging the country's aviation and tourism sectors to help kick start the stalled economy. The minister's comments come against the back drop of plunging tourist arrivals caused by the country's ongoing political and social unrest which thus far have cost national carrier, Egyptair (MS), "considerable losses". Previous reports stated the national airline's arrivals had dropped 10% since the military coup of July 3 and the ensuing civil unrest. 

■ EGYPT: National airports still operating despite ongoing chaos: Fadel

The Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Abdel Aziz Fadel, has confirmed that all airports in the country are operating normally though the imposition of a curfew in Cairo has resulted in national carrier Egyptair (MS) asking passengers to be at Cairo International Airport at least 4 hours before the scheduled departure time of any international flights and 90 minutes before departure for domestic flights. He added the main road to Cairo airport was open and is closely monitored by police checkpoints and armed patrols.

■ EGYPT: Cairo's proposed aerotropolis, "Cairo AeroCity", attracts $3billion in initial bids.

Egypt's new Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr Abdel Aziz Fadel, says Cairo International Airport's Aerotropolis proposal, dubbed Cairo AeroCity, has thus far attracted USD3billion in initial bids in spite of the unstable political situation currently prevailing in the country.

■ EGYPT: Egyptair M&E boss, Abdel Aziz Fadel, appointed new Minister of Civil Aviation.

Egypt's new interim president, Adly Mansour, on Tuesday July 16, presided over the swearing-in ceremony of his new cabinet, scheduled to last six months while fresh elections are planned, whereupon he appointed Mr Abdel Aziz Fadel, the current Chairman and CEO of  Egyptair Maintenance & Engineering, to the post of interim Minister of Civil Aviation. Mr Fadel replaces Engineer Wael El-Maadawy who was ousted along with the rest of Mohammad Morsi's government during last week's military-backed coup d'état.

■ EGYPT: Works at Alexandria International to be completed in 2014 as Hurghada's second runway goes ahead.

Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Engineer Wael El-Maadawy, says that all infrastructural development works at Alexandria International Airport will be completed  next year. The airport was closed in 2010 for renovation and expansion with all traffic being transferred to Alexandria Borg El Arab Airport in the meantime.

■ EGYPT: Egyptair's losses to narrow by 57% during this financial year; EHCAAN's profits to rise 15% - El-Maadawy.

Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Engineer Wael El-Maadawy, has announced that Egyptian national carrier, EgyptAir (MS), is expected to see an improvement in its business climate with losses for the current 2012/13 fiscal year decreasing 57% compared to last year. Additionally, the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation (EHCAAN) is expected to see a 15% rise in its profits on the back of the increased use of Egyptian airports as transit points.

■■ EGYPT: Cairo International Airport shelves plans to partially close in the early hours from June onwards in bid to cut costs.

[UPDATE 27 MAY] From 1 June onwards, Cairo International Airport, one of the Middle East's most important aviation hubs, is to partially close during the early morning hours in a bid to reduce soaring costs as the Egyptian government struggles to pay its ever increasing power bills.

■ EGYPT: Government to refloat tender for lease of Cairo Airport Terminal 1's "Hall 4" GA facility.

Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Engineer Wael El-Maadawy, has announced the impending launch of an international tender for the lease of Cairo Terminal 1's Hall "4"; a facility dedicated to private and executive jet services.

► JAPAN: Egyptair wants to drop Tokyo and Osaka routes citing poor governmental support.

The Associated Press is reporting that Egyptian national carrier, Egyptair (MS), says it will cease operating flights to Japan until further notice citing "major economic losses and lack of support from either the Egyptian or Japanese governments."

► EGYPT: Air Memphis sold to Rami Lakah; to launch charter flights to Iran "in coming weeks".

Struggling Egyptian charter carrier, Air Memphis (MHS), has been sold to French-Egyptian businessman, Raymond Lakah, (aka Rami Lakah) who intends to use the airline to début charter flights between upper Egypt and Iran it has emerged.

■ EGYPT: Egyptair losses total $880million since 2011 Revolution: al-Maddawy.

Egypt's Minister of Civil Aviation, Wael al-Maddawy, says Egyptian national carrier, Egyptair (MS), has posted continuous losses of USD880million (EGP6billion) since the 2011 Egyptian revolution which lead to the fall of then president, Hosni Mubarak, and his regime.