Borg El-Arab International Airport in Egypt has been awarded the Airports Council International’s (ACI) Africa Safety Award for 2024 in recognition of its excellence in emergency management and resilience amid a growing surge in passenger traffic.

The Excellence in Airport Emergency Management and Resilience award was presented in the airports category handling between 10,000 and 20,000 movements (Category 3). This came in an event held alongside ACI Africa’s Annual General Assembly and Regional Conference in Johannesburg on 16-22 September, according to a statement by the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation (EHCAAN) on Wednesday 25/9/2024.

In addition, Julius Nyerere International Airport in Tanzania claimed first place in the airports category managing over 50,000 movements (Category 1).

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Mauritius was awarded in the category for airports handling between 20,000 and 50,000 movements (Category 2).

Meanwhile, Korhogo Airport in Côte d
‘Ivoire was awarded in the airports category with fewer than 10,000 movements (Category 4).

These awards highlight the commitment and dedication of these airports to ensuring safety and resilience, recognizing their high standards in airport emergency management across Africa, ACI Africa indicated in a separate statement on 20 September.

In its Wednesday statement, the EHCAAN described the award as ‘a new international milestone,’ noting that it aligns with the vision of the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation to enhance Egyptian airports’ classification, particularly in security and safety.

Borg El-Arab airport is the primary international entry point for Alexandria, the North Coast, and the Nile Delta region.

Egypt’s airports experienced a 28 percent surge in passenger traffic in 2023, welcoming nearly 47 million passengers, compared to 2022.

Additionally, the number of flights passing through Egyptian airports increased by 23 percent to 365,000.

Tourism remains one of Egypt’s key sources of foreign c
urrency. The year 2023 marked the highest number of inbound tourists at 14.906 million, surpassing the previous peak of 14.731 million in 2010.

In the first half of 2024, Egypt attracted a record-breaking 7.069 million tourists, with revenues reaching $6.6 billion, compared to $6.3 billion in 2023 and $5.6 billion in 2010.

Source: State Information Service Egypt