Montreal: Civil Aviation Minister Samih El-Hefny conducted high-level meetings with international aviation organizations and global companies on the sidelines of the 42nd ICAO General Assembly in Montreal, Canada, to strengthen Egypt's position as a regional aviation hub.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Hefny discussed air safety, carbon emissions, and digital transformation with Magda Kopczynska, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission. The discussions included support for the CORSIA emissions reduction scheme and the use of sustainable aviation fuel, as highlighted in a press release by the Aviation Ministry.

In further talks with EUROCONTROL Director-General Raºl Medina, Hefny explored coordination to streamline air traffic from the Middle East to Europe through Egyptian airspace and considered a cooperation protocol. These discussions are aimed at enhancing the efficiency and safety of air traffic management between the regions.

Hefny also engaged with U.S. TSA officials, who praised Egypt's airport security standards. They discussed future security cooperation, which underscores Egypt's ongoing efforts to meet international security benchmarks.

Additionally, talks with French firm INEO Energy focused on air navigation systems, control towers, and communications. The discussions aimed at leveraging the company's global experience to improve Egypt's aviation infrastructure.

Hefny stated that the meetings reflect Egypt's commitment to safety, digitalization, and environmental standards, which are essential to attracting strategic partnerships and strengthening Egypt's role in global air transport.