The Civil Aviation Ministry’s ambitious plans to overhaul the country’s airports was the hot topic on last night’s talk shows, as minister Sameh Elhefny walked Ala Masouleety’s Ahmed Moussa through the the state’s strategy for private sector involvement, infrastructure upgrades, and the digitalization of the traveler experience, during a phone-in last night (watch, runtime:19:00)

Private sector players are lining up for a piece of Egypt’s airports: Some 62 consortiums have already picked up pre-qualification documents to manage and operate Hurghada International Airport, Elhefny said. The airport is being offered as one of 11 Egyptian airports slated for development through public-private partnerships. Each bid must be submitted by a three-way partnership consisting of a specialized airport operator, a global construction firm, and a financing arm. The deadline for pre-qualification is 12 February.

Cairo International’s USD 4.5 bn facelift: Development work is accelerating at Cairo International Airport, specifically on the new USD 4.5 bn Terminal 4, according to Elhefny. The ministry is currently conducting fiscal studies to determine if the project will require external funding.

PLUS- Departure cards will soon be a thing of the past, with the Madbouly government canceling them starting the end of the month, Elhefny said. The move aims to make the travel experience through Egyptian airports smoother.

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