QCAA Announces Qatari Initiative To Shorten Air Routes In Egyptian Airspace

Doha: Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) announced yesterday the launch of the second phase of the Qatari initiative to shorten air routes in Egyptian airspace, following the successful completion of the first phase.

The announcement was made during a press conference held in Cairo, Egypt.

Leading the Qatari delegation was In Charge of Managing QCAA Mohamed bin Faleh Al-Hajri, accompanied by Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League H E Tarik Ali Faraj Al-Ansari.

From the Egyptian side, Civil Aviation Minister H E Dr. Sameh El-Hefny and head of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority Captain Amr El-Sharqawy took part in the event.

Also in attendance were Director of the ICAO Middle East Regional Office Eng. Mohamed Abu Bakr Farea and IATA Regional Director of North Africa Mohammed Lutfi.

The first phase of the initiative included training 35 Egyptian air traffic controllers by the Air Navigation Department of the Authority on the parallel take-off and landing system.

The second phase will involve a partial redesign of Egyptian airspace and modifications to certain air routes within the Cairo Flight Information Region, with the goal of reducing the duration of overflight routes.

This phase is based on a proposal prepared by a team from QCAA and Qatar's national carrier.

In addition, the second phase will continue the training of Egyptian air traffic controllers on the Free Route Airspace (FRA) system, which helps reduce flight duration and increase airspace capacity.

The initiative aims to enhance Qatar's role in the fields of air transport and environmental sustainability, while highlighting its contribution to the improvement and development of global air navigation.

The project is also intended to serve as a model for similar initiatives in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, aiming to shorten air routes and generate significant economic savings for airlines.

In his address at the conference, Al-Hajri stated that this initiative is one of several landmark efforts that reflect the State of Qatar's strong and ongoing commitment to advancing the civil aviation sector and fostering regional and international cooperation in this vital field.

He added that the initiative to shorten air routes over Egyptian airspace is the result of fruitful and constructive collaboration between the QCAA and the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority.

It aims to enhance air traffic efficiency, reduce congestion, and shorten flight times, delivering clear economic and environmental benefits.

This initiative also embodies Qatar's vision of being an active partner in the global development of air navigation systems and reaffirms the country's dedication to achieving sustainability in the aviation industry and reducing carbon emissions, in line with the priorities and objectives of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Al-Hajri also highlighted the initiative's positive impact on both travellers and airlines by cutting flight durations, improving travel efficiency, reducing delays and wait times, and ultimately enhancing the overall quality of service and passenger satisfaction.

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