Egypt's New Passport Card System Promises Faster Airport Travel by January 2025.
Key Points
- 1Egypt's Ministry of Civil Aviation will replace the paper passport card with a fully digital system by the end of January 2025 to reduce passenger waiting times.
- 2The digital initiative is part of a broader strategy that includes piloting an integrated electronic visa system to facilitate tourist entry.
- 3New operational standards target baggage delivery within 20 minutes (first bag) and 40 minutes (last bag) of aircraft arrival, even during peak times.
- 4Cairo International Airport handles an average of 106,000 passengers daily, prompting studies for a proposed Terminal 4 expansion.
Egypt is moving to modernize its air travel experience. The nation plans to launch a new digital passport card system. This system will be rolled out at airports by the end of January 2025.
The goal is to streamline travel procedures for all passengers. It will significantly reduce waiting times for both arrivals and departures. Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny confirmed the plan. He spoke during a recent television interview on Sunday, January 4.
Historically, the paper passport card was a standard requirement. Passengers had to manually fill in personal and travel details. This included passport information, flight numbers, and destination. The new digital system will replace this paper form entirely. Minister El-Hefny stated this will simplify passport checks. It will also greatly improve passenger flow improvement, especially during peak travel periods. The initiative is part of a wider government strategy. This strategy aims to modernizing airport services and enhance the overall traveler experience.
Digital Transformation
The passport card system is one part of a larger digital transformation strategy. The Cabinet recently reviewed progress on a related project. This is the pilot implementation of an integrated electronic visa system.
This new e-visa platform is designed to facilitate tourist entry. It aims to support Egypt’s vital aviation and tourism sector support. Discussions also covered emergency visa procedures. The goal is speeding up visa issuance for tourists upon arrival. This ensures smoother travel during any periods of disruption.
Egypt's push for digital integration aligns with global standards. International bodies like the ICAO encourage such advancements. These measures help to improve security and efficiency across the network.
Operational Improvements
Beyond digital services, operational standards are also being upgraded. Minister El-Hefny announced new baggage handling standards for all Egyptian airports. Under the new targets, the first checked bag should reach passengers within 20 minutes of arrival. The final bag must be delivered within 40 minutes. This strict timeline applies even during peak operations. These efforts are crucial for maintaining efficient operations, as reported by industry groups like IATA.
Egypt's primary gateway, Cairo International Airport, is experiencing high traffic. The airport is handling an average of around 106,000 passengers daily. This high volume is prompting ongoing studies for future expansion. A proposed Terminal 4 is part of this long-term planning. Tourist destinations like Sharm El-Sheikh and Marsa Alam have also seen increased traffic. Flights to Marsa Alam, for instance, have risen by about 20 percent.
Future Expansion & Partnerships
To boost operational efficiency further, the government has a separate plan. It intends to offer the management of approximately 11 airports to the private sector. The Minister stressed this move is for management only. It is not intended to sell state assets. Several international alliances have expressed interest in this opportunity. Selections will be based on technical and operational criteria. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is advising the government on this public-private partnership (PPP) program. This approach aims to leverage private sector expertise. It will strengthen the country’s position as a regional aviation hub and improve overall service quality.
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