Egypt airports to replace paper landing cards with digital system
Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny said late on Sunday, January 4, 2026, that Egypt’s airports will replace paper landing cards with a digital system for all arriving and departing passengers by the end of January, aiming to simplify travel and improve the passenger experience.
In a phone interview with Sada El-Balad TV, El-Hefny stated that the ministry is finalizing a digital application to replace the paper passport card, which will enable passenger data to be processed electronically.
The move, he said, is aimed at accelerating passenger flow inside terminals, particularly during peak travel periods, and raising service quality in line with international standards.
El-Hefny stated that the reform is part of a broader strategy to digitize services across Egyptian airports, noting that a recent cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, reviewed the latest developments in the pilot phase of the integrated electronic visa issuance system.
The system will allow visa applications to be submitted and tracked online, reducing paperwork while ensuring speed and accuracy.
He said the meeting also discussed procedures related to the emergency visa, with measures in place to ensure tourists can obtain it swiftly upon arrival, a step intended to support inbound tourism in the near future.
On ground services, the minister said performance indicators have improved, noting that the first piece of checked baggage now reaches passengers within 20 minutes of an aircraft’s arrival, while the last bag is delivered within 40 minutes.
He said these improvements are part of a plan to boost operational efficiency and passenger satisfaction.
On airport management, El-Hefny said private sector involvement will be limited to management and operation, not ownership.
“Airports are sovereign assets of the state and cannot be sold,” he said, stressing that the private sector’s role will be confined to professional management aimed at improving performance.
He said the ministry plans to outsource the management of 11 airports to specialized private-sector operators, starting with one airport as a pilot project, followed by the remaining airports in phases.
A prequalification booklet has been issued, attracting interest from more than 62 consortia. Each consortium, he explained, consists of a specialised airport management company, a global construction firm, and a third partner within the consortium structure.
According to El-Hefny, the application period will remain open until 12 February, after which a shortlist will be prepared within two months, ahead of selecting the winning company or consortium.
El-Hefny said Cairo International Airport is handling record passenger numbers, averaging about 106,000 travellers per day, adding that studies are underway for the planned Terminal 4.
On tourism destinations, he said the ministry is working closely with the company developing Marsa Alam Airport, noting a 20 percent rise in tourist flights, alongside steady growth in traffic to Sharm El-Sheikh.
Addressing recent regional disruptions, the minister said a technical failure at Athens Airport and the temporary closure of Greek airspace caused significant disruption to flight routes, with some aircraft unable to land in Athens.