CAIRO — EgyptAir is accelerating one of its biggest network and fleet expansions in years, using new Airbus A350s and direct US routes to strengthen Cairo’s role as an international connecting hub while targeting a fleet of about 200 aircraft by 2035.
The long-haul push has centred on North America. EgyptAir launched Cairo–Los Angeles on May 23 and Cairo–Chicago on June 21, operating each three times weekly with its new Airbus A350-900. The aircraft is also being deployed on established routes including New York, Paris, Frankfurt and London, increasing capacity while modernising the carrier’s long-haul operations.
The expansion extends beyond the US. Cairo–Venice began on June 29 with two weekly A320neo flights, increasing to three during the winter season, while EgyptAir launched direct Zanzibar services in September. Birmingham is due to join its UK network in late October with four weekly flights, becoming the carrier’s third British destination after London and Manchester.
Fleet renewal provides the capacity behind that network growth. EgyptAir received its first A350-900 in February from an order for 16 aircraft, becoming North Africa’s launch operator of the type. Airbus says the aircraft can fly up to 18,000 kilometres and delivers about a 25% improvement in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon emissions compared with previous-generation competing aircraft.
The programme is now moving from fleet renewal towards substantially greater scale. EgyptAir’s earlier plan envisaged 97 aircraft by 2030/31, but the carrier has since raised its ambition to about 125 aircraft by 2030 and 200 by 2035, according to Chairman Ahmed Adel and Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny. That would represent a significant expansion of operating capacity rather than simply replacement of ageing aircraft.
A larger fleet could allow EgyptAir to add destinations, increase frequencies and improve connection options through Cairo — critical to the economics of a hub carrier competing for transfer traffic between Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and North America.
The operational push has coincided with improving international service rankings. Skytrax named EgyptAir the World’s Most Improved Airline for 2026, while the carrier rose to 46th globally and second among African airlines.
The strategic test is now execution. Aircraft numbers alone will not determine whether the expansion succeeds: EgyptAir must convert additional capacity into higher frequencies, stronger load factors and greater connecting traffic through Cairo.
If delivered, however, the 200-aircraft plan would move EgyptAir beyond incremental network growth towards a materially larger hub model — positioning Cairo to capture a greater share of passenger flows linking Africa and the Middle East with Europe, Asia and North America.
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