Private Operators to Manage 11 Airports Under 30-Year Contracts
The Civil Aviation Ministry plans to outsource the management and development of 11 airports while retaining state ownership.
The Civil Aviation Ministry plans to offer private operators contracts of up to 30 years to manage and develop airports, subject to parliamentary approval, Minister Sameh El-Hefny said.
The contract length is intended to give operators enough time to recover spending on infrastructure and services and generate returns on their investments. Winning consortiums are expected to be named six to eight months after requests for proposals and technical specifications are issued.
The programme covers 11 airports: Hurghada, Sphinx, Sharm El-Sheikh, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Sohag, Assiut, Abu Simbel, El-Alamein and Marsa Matrouh.
Hurghada International Airport is the first to be offered under the scheme, with bids already opened for private companies to manage, operate and develop the facility.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has said the state will retain ownership of the airports while expanding private-sector participation in their operation and development.
The Civil Aviation Ministry currently oversees 23 airports through the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation. Airports nationwide handled around 58.94 million passengers in 2025, including 30.94 million through Cairo International Airport.
