Smart move for new domestic and regional airline

A decision was likely to be made as Arabian Aerospace was going to press, with the successful bidder being expected to deliver two aircraft by the end of the year with operations to begin early in 2011.

The new airline will hold options on three further aircraft.

Smart is a joint-stock company, with shares held by the Egyptian Ministry for Civil Aviation, Egypt Air Holding, the Airport company and the Navigation company – all government-linked entities.

Chairman and CEO, General Wael Amin Elmaadawy said the turboprops taking between 60 and 70 passengers, would create a new market for air transport in Egypt .

“We don’t need expensive large airports and long runways,” Elmaadawy said. “Our plan would be to base the aircraft at Cairo International and then fly to a day-base at somewhere like Sharm el Sheik or Aswan and operate routes from there to key places throughout the country or neighbouring countries such as Aqaba in Jordan or Beirut .

“We will bring places together where a route does not currently exist.”

Elmaadawy and his vice chairman, technical affairs, Radwan Sallam were previously with Egypt ’s Petroleum Air Service (PAS), which operated a fleet of Bombardier Dash 8-300s.

“We have a lot of experience with turboprops and understand the operating costs,” Elmaadawy said. “We believe this will allow us to control the costs and our experience with the executive aircraft means we understand the customer service and quality. We want to offer a quality service for a low cost price.

“For tourists and for ordinary Egyptian citizens who may be flying for the first time, we want this to be a good experience.”

The aircraft will be fitted with an IFE system, which the company will introduce on missions longer than two hours.

The new airline – which will have the Smart brand – will operate from Cairo ’s main airport, although not from the new executive FBO being built next to Hall 4 – the current VIP terminal.

“We are building a 4,000 sq metre hangar, which will incorporate our business jets and the turboprops,” Elmaadawy said. The company is working towards Cessna approvals as a repair centre as well as FAA approval.

Smart sees a growth in employment to match the demand but believes the business jet operation has served as a great grounding in developing staff for the new venture.

The company is also continuing to promote and grow the executive aviation division.

Two of the five Sovereigns can be converted to air ambulances for medevac operations. The aircraft can reach London or Paris non-stop from Cairo and has been used to transfer 15 critically or seriously ill patients from Cairo to an associate hospital in Paris with 100 per cent success.

Smart has been pushing into the Gulf and into Africa . “We have been offering special rates for people taking our 100-hour package, which can be for as little as $4,000 an hour,” Elmaadawy said. “Again controlling our costs allows us to do this.”

Elmaadawy wants Smart to be the number one across the whole region. We want to develop trust with our customers; they will use us more and we can then grow the fleet. We are offering great catering from one of Cairo ’s finest resorts, we have top quality staff and we have great aircraft. I have been very pleased with the Cessna aircraft and the company. It has the range and the comfort.”