Egypt's strongest growing airport bucks global trend; more growth expected

Port Ghalib, Red Sead, Egypt, 26 August 2009 - Marsa Alam airport, the gateway to the Egyptian Southern Red Sea, today announced a 16% year-on-year growth in total passenger numbers for July 2009.   Flight movements into and out of the airport have grown by 17% year-on-year. 

Commenting on the continuing growth of the airport, Hussein Refky, the airport's General Manager, said, "The success of Port Ghalib, the Red Sea's new luxury resort, is the main driver behind the growth in passenger numbers and in flight movements at the airport.    We have seen increasing numbers of passengers coming from across Europe and the Middle East, a reversal of the trends of other Egyptian airports and resorts, and certainly against the trend in other European and Middle Eastern tourist destinations.  We have recently added flights from Kuwait and Jeddah, and expect to continue growing passenger numbers and the number of routes covered from the airport.

Eng. Ibrahim Saleh, Vice President of AL-Kharafi Group, the owner of Port Ghalib Resort Company, said, "Despite seeing some of the worst overall conditions the global tourism industry has seen in our life time, Port Ghalib continues to see an increase in the number of visitors.  People continue to be attracted by the affordable luxury the resort offers, with its three five star hotels, Six Senses spa, world class marina and international standards conference facilities.  Of course, the spectacular natural setting - above and below the Red Sea - is among the key attractions, and we fully expect to see this growth trend continue as the resort's reputation continues to spread."

The airport, which this week saw the arrival of a Boeing 747 for the first time, has a 3,240 metre runway and accommodates Boeing 737 - 757 - 767, Airbus 320 - 310 - 300 jets and similar aircraft.

Passengers from Italy, which represents 52% of all visitors so far this year, increased by 3%, as did passenger numbers from Germany (13% of total).  There was a 34% increase year-on-year in passengers from Britain, which represents 8% of total passenger numbers.    Passengers from Kuwait increase by 1000% year-on-year, while passengers from Egypt increased by 40% year-on-year. 

The growth in Marsa Alam is against the trend in other tourist centres:  passenger numbers in major European travel destinations fell significantly in the first quarter of 2009 due to the global economic climate.  For instance, Italian airports reported a 13.4% decline in passenger numbers, while Spain recorded a similar fall in the first half of the year.  Nice airport reported an 8% fall in the first half of the year. 

Mr Refky added: "Even with this continued growth, standards at Marsa Alam airport remain world class and customer satisfaction is maintained at its highest possible level.  93% of flights take off within 15 minutes of their scheduled time, check in times remain exceptionally good, with an average of 3 people per minute, and it is taking an average of 6 minutes from arrival to immigration clearance."

According to Eng. Saleh, visitors to Port Ghalib, whether they are coming for vacation or for business, rate the Marsa Alam airport experience very highly, in particular its close proximity to the resort.  Being only 10 minutes away from the airport, and with such a stress free and rapid clearance of the airport, adds to the sense of luxury that Port Ghalib offers.

- Ends -

About Marsa Alam Airport
Marsa Alam airport, which is the first privately owned and operated international commercial airport in Egypt and is the first airport in aviation history operating under a complete BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) system, operates flights to and from 32 airports in 14 countries. They include Cairo, Hergada, Sharm al Sheikh, Taba, Milan, Verona, Rome, Bologna, Turin, Bari, Naples, Pisa, Bergamo, Catania, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Munich, Nuremburg, Leipzig, Stuttgart, London, Manchester, Warsaw, Brussels, Prague, Vienna, Amsterdam, Zurich, Luxembourg, Kuwait, Jeddah, Amman, .

The 3,240 meter runway can accommodate Boeing 737 - 757 - 767, Airbus 320 - 310 - 300 jets and similar aircrafts; whilst the taxi-ways permit easy and quick access to the terminal building.

About Port Ghalib
Port Ghalib is a new luxury resort located on the South West coast of the Egyptian Red Sea, five minutes from Marsa Alam International Airport and 2 hours drive from Luxor and the Valley of the Kings.  The $2 billion development by Kuwaiti group, M.A. Kharafi Group, is designed by some of the World's most respected planners.  The resort lies at the heart of the world's second largest manmade swimming lagoons and boasts three five star international hotels, a Six Senses spa, a 1500 seat convention centre, a world class marina with a capacity of over 200 moorings, a traditional Egyptian Bazaar, and over a kilometre of retail outlets, restaurants and bars.  Port Ghalib offers visitors an amazing range of outdoor activities based around the crystal clear sea and untouched natural reefs, and the desert.

For further information please contact:
Heidi Robinson or Noha Gaber
Capital MS&L Dubai
Tel: +971 4 367 6160

James Madsen
Capital MS&L London
Tel: +44 (0)20 7255 5199

© Press Release 2009