The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Egypt advances sustainable aviation, green airports
Sustainability initiatives are also being implemented at other Egyptian airports.
Egypt is advancing a green aviation agenda as part of its civil aviation development, with sustainability framed as a strategic priority amid rising global air traffic and environmental pressures.
At the ICAO Green Airports Symposium, Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Sameh El-Hefny, urged modernisation of infrastructure and improved operational practices to cut emissions and boost energy and resource efficiency, while maintaining airport resilience to climate change.
Cairo International Airport is highlighted for progress, reporting a 4% drop in total energy consumption despite more than 9% growth in passenger traffic, and a 12.2% improvement in energy efficiency per passenger. The airport’s solar capacity reaches about 4 megawatts, producing an estimated 6.4 million kilowatt-hours annually.
Other Egyptian airports are pursuing sustainability measures, including Borg El Arab International Airport, which has a 1.5-megawatt solar system and accompanying energy conservation, water treatment, and water reuse initiatives. Hurghada International Airport participates in the Green Hurghada initiative to promote sustainable environmental practices.
Egypt’s green efforts also involve international collaboration, such as the FIRE project with ICAO and UNEP, supported by the Global Environment Facility, targeting safer PFAS-free firefighting foams while maintaining aviation safety, currently active at Cairo and Sharm El-Sheikh airports.
ICAO and regional officials overviews emphasized expanding clean energy, protecting critical infrastructure, and adapting operations to climate change, aligning with ICAO’s 2050 strategic vision for accessible air travel, zero fatalities, and net-zero emissions. Egypt’s aviation leadership underscored digital transformation and private-sector partnerships as key to financing and modernising airport infrastructure.