On September 3rd, 2023, at 5:58 local time, EgyptAir made history by conducting its inaugural charter flight from Cairo (CAI), Egypt, to São Paulo (Guarulhos), Brazil. This milestone marks the Egyptian national airline’s first foray into the vibrant South American market, opening up exciting new possibilities for travelers and signaling EgyptAir’s commitment to expanding its global presence.
The historic flight was operated using the Boeing 787-9 aircraft with registration SU-GET, boasting a passenger capacity of 309 individuals. The aircraft features 30 seats in business class and 279 seats in the economy class.
EgyptAir’s foray into South America has been met with enthusiasm. According to data provided by the tourism authorities and the marketing agency Egypt Flight (Master Flights), initial flight data shows that the first scheduled flights have maintained an impressive occupancy rate, ranging between 68% and 71%.
Travelers looking to explore the wonders of South America will be pleased to learn that EgyptAir plans to conduct a total of 17 charter flights between September 2023 and April 2024. These flights will offer travelers enticing travel packages lasting 13 to 15 days, with a total of 4,944 seats available for booking.
Flight Schedule:
Cairo – São Paulo (Guarulhos) MS 3910
– Departure: CAI at 23:55
– Arrival: GRU at 07:20 (+1)
– Flights on: 16th and 30th of September; 14th and 28th of October; 11th and 25th of November; 8th and 23rd of December; 6th and 20th of January 2024; 3rd and 17th of February 2024; 2nd, 16th, and 30th of March; and 13th of April 2024.
São Paulo (Guarulhos) – Cairo MS 3911
– Departure: GRU at 04:00
– Arrival: CAI at 22:35
– Flights on: 4th and 18th of September; 2nd, 16th, and 30th of October; 13th and 27th of November; 11th and 25th of December; 8th and 22nd of January 2024; 5th and 19th of February 2024; 4th and 18th of March 2024; and 1st of April 2024.
The success of this initiative, both in terms of passenger occupancy and overall reception, could pave the way for these operations to become regular, further solidifying EgyptAir’s presence in South America. There have also been murmurs of EgyptAir expanding its horizons to Buenos Aires/Ezeiza (EZE), Argentina, with a potential stopover in São Paulo, which would signify even more exciting developments in the near future.
EgyptAir’s Ambitious Expansion Plans
EgyptAir is on a mission to transform Cairo into a major global aviation hub, leveraging its strategically advantageous geographical location. This ambitious expansion strategy, however, has faced several challenges, including security concerns arising from terrorism, the repercussions of the Arab Spring, and the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global air travel, all of which have affected air traffic in Egypt.
Historically, EgyptAir has primarily focused on connecting Egypt with major cities hosting significant Egyptian ethnic communities. However, with its recent expansion, the airline is positioning itself to not only facilitate connectivity but also to boost tourism and compete with other prominent Arab airlines.
Compared to its route offerings in 2019, EgyptAir has significantly expanded its reach, adding destinations such as Dhaka (DAC), Doha (DOH), Dublin (DUB), Düsseldorf (DUS), Kinshasa (FIH), Manchester (MAN), Moroni (HAH), Newark (EWR), and Tel Aviv (TLV) to its growing network.
In terms of its fleet, EgyptAir is undergoing a comprehensive renovation process. This process includes replacing older aircraft models like the Embraer 175, Airbus A320/A321ceo, and Boeing 777-200ER with more modern and fuel-efficient options such as the A220-300, A320neo, A321neo, and Boeing 787-9.
As of now, EgyptAir’s impressive fleet consists of twelve Airbus A220-300s, eight Airbus A320neos, four A321neos, seven Airbus A330-200s, four A330-300s, twenty-nine Boeing 737-800s, six Boeing 777-300ERs, and six Boeing 787-9s.
