Egypt’s Tourism Ambitions Put Seasonal Airline Capacity in Focus

Airlines may need a mix of permanent fleet growth and flexible ACMI capacity to meet rising demand and seasonal peaks

Egypt is targeting 30 million tourists annually by 2030 after welcoming nearly 19 million visitors in 2025, according to the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The ambitious target is expected to create significant demand for additional airline capacity.

However, meeting that demand will require more than simply adding aircraft. Airlines must determine how much capacity should be added permanently and how much is needed only during seasonal peaks or to address temporary shortages.

Permanent fleet expansion typically requires years of planning, while passenger demand can shift much faster. Wet leasing, also known as ACMI, can help airlines bridge that gap by providing aircraft together with crew, maintenance and insurance for a defined period.

Justinas Bulka, CEO of KlasJet, an ACMI and charter operator within Avia Solutions Group, said Egyptian airlines could combine long-term fleet expansion with flexible temporary capacity.

“Egypt’s airlines have strong reasons to grow, but not every increase in demand requires a permanent aircraft. Fleet ownership and long-term leases provide the foundation for sustained growth, while ACMI gives airlines the flexibility to respond to seasonal peaks, launch new routes or cover short-term capacity gaps,” Bulka said.

Balancing fleet expansion with seasonal demand

Egypt is already expanding its aviation infrastructure to accommodate growing passenger numbers.

A planned fourth terminal at Cairo International Airport is expected to raise the airport’s annual capacity to 70 million passengers, while Sphinx International Airport has recently completed an upgrade.

Airlines are also pursuing significant fleet expansion. EgyptAir plans to increase its fleet to 125 aircraft by adding 34 aircraft and doubling passenger numbers. Air Cairo, an EgyptAir subsidiary, plans to increase its fleet from 42 to 82 aircraft over the next four years.

While these plans are designed to support long-term growth, passenger demand varies significantly by season, destination and source market.

More than 10.2 million European tourists accounted for 65% of Egypt’s international tourist arrivals in 2024, according to the OECD. Charter flights serving Egyptian tourism destinations also increased by 32% in 2025.

This creates different demand peaks across individual routes and destinations, even as Egypt continues to attract tourists throughout the year.

Maintaining enough permanently owned or leased aircraft to cover every seasonal peak could leave part of an airline’s fleet underutilised during quieter periods. Conversely, building a fleet around average annual demand could result in insufficient capacity during periods of high demand.

ACMI allows airlines to add aircraft to selected routes for a specific period and remove that capacity once demand declines.