Opportunities Today :- March 2005 Issue

Interview of New Area Manager - Egypt Air

 

You are the new Area Manager in India for Egypt Air. Tell us what are your plans to take Egypt Air ahead?

Before promoting Egypt Air, it is important that I create awareness about Egypt. Firstly, I want to attract Indian passengers to Egypt. Egypt has a lot to offer - history, culture, shopping, beaches, etc. We plan doing this by offering various types of tours. 

The next thing would be to promote Egypt Air by offering attractive fares so that passengers can afford to travel. This includes promoting the transit thru' Egypt as Cairo is used as a transit point for many passengers going to Europe and the African continent. Most passengers who are flying to London or other places in Europe as well, we are giving one night hotel accommodation in Cairo to transit passengers so that they can take their onward flight the following day. During their transit stay we also can give them the facility to do a bit of sightseeing depending on the time of arrival and subsequent departure and number of hours spent in transit. 


Thirdly, we have a frequent flyer programme (FFP) which we plan promoting more aggressively to encourage passengers to earn miles on their travel by flying more frequently on Egypt Air. Thru' the FFP, we plan encouraging not only those passengers who fly in and out of Cairo but also transit passengers so that they can earn more miles and as a result can get complimentary upgrades, free tickets, free vouchers to use at our duty free shops in Egypt. 
I would also be attending most of the meetings organized by travel agencies as well as Airlines. We are participating in TAAI and SKAL meetings and use them as channels for promoting Egypt Air.

 

What were your earlier assignments with Egypt Air?

This is my first overseas assignment. I was Assistant Manager and Sales Manager for Egypt Air at the head quarters in Cairo. That experience has helped me in selling Egypt Air, understanding how various levels of seasonal fares should be offered to attract more passengers. This 7 year experience in Marketing and Sales has given me the confidence to handle the operations in India. 


You have been almost 6 months now in India. What has been your overall experience?

India is a great country and even before coming here I had heard a lot about this wonderful country through friends of mine back in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. I love the hospitality here and the people are as warm here as the Egyptians. I love Indian cuisine. What I have also found out that the awareness about Egypt in India is increasing all the time. Already we have people talking about travelling to Egypt. Indians love to travel especially to the Far East, to Mauritius, Seychelles and now more and more Indians are discovering that Egypt is a wonderful place to travel to and is not expensive at all. Besides Cairo which is famous for the Pyramids, there are other beautiful cities like Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada.


Whenever I interact with passengers returning from Cairo and Egypt, I hear positive feedback and they find our country simply amazing. Although it is comparatively a new destination for Indians, I am sure it will become as popular as other destinations like the Far East. After all Egypt is a country of rich culture, it has one of the 7 wonders of the world, the Nile Cruise and beautiful beaches. It is a year round destination for passengers. 


Besides Cairo, Luxor and Aswan what are the other attractions in Egypt?

Cairo has one of the famous museums of the world which is the Egyptian Museum. You have mummies and monuments dating back over 5000 to 6000 years and which used to belong to the Pharaohs. Also you can visit Cairo Tower which is over 60 stories and you can see the entire city. There is also a rooftop restaurant where you can enjoy fine cuisine. You can also visit the Khan El Khalili, a market which has excellent bargains for shoppers. Then there are the Islamic Monuments such as mosques, citadels and not forgetting the Pyramids and the Sphinx. The Sound and Light show at night at the Pyramids takes you back in history and narrates to you the story of the Pyramids and the Sphinx, how it was built and so on. We also have a short Nile cruise in Cairo itself. So if you are on a short visit and cannot take a cruise to Luxor or Aswan, you can take a dinner cruise in Cairo you can enjoy Cairo by night and belly dancing as well. 

In Luxor, there is Karnak Temple and you have many small towns along the cruise and the English Guide can explain to you the historic importance of these towns along the way. Near Aswan you have the High Dam it is a Dam built by Mr. Nasser who has built most of Egypt and was a very close friend of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. We built this Dam for water conservation. You can also visit Sharm el Sheikh which is a resort town on the Red Sea with beautiful beaches. We have special chartered flights from Europe to Sharm el Sheikh as it is a favourite destination for holiday makers from Europe. We also have chartered flight to Hurghada which is also famous for its beaches. We have excellent connections from Cairo to both Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh. So those wanting a relaxing beach holiday can fly Mumbai Cairo and then connect to any one of these cities. 

You also can take day trips to Alexandria from Cairo. Alexandria is the second capital of Egypt and is on the Mediterranean Sea and is best to visit in the summer. 

What has Egypt to offer for shopaholics?

Egypt is not an expensive country and shoppers get a good value on the dollar. One dollar is approximately 6.25 Egyptian Pound. The Khan el Khalili Bazaar is famous for its silver, gold, artifacts, statues and you can see how these things are made. You have some exceptional paintings, cotton is not expensive and you can get good deals on clothing as well. You can carry home amazing souvenirs.


What are the frequency of flights from Mumbai?

There are two flights a week from Mumbai Saturday and Wednesday and it flies via Sharjah where there is a one hour stop. We are planning to start Delhi flights shortly as there are many travellers from North India who want direct connections to Cairo. We are the only airline having direct flight to Cairo Most flights have hub points and then they fly into Cairo. We are trying to even attract Business Class passengers and we plan introducing group fares for Business Class as well. 


What are the benefits that a transit passenger has on flying Egypt Air?

We are giving free accommodation at the Movenpick Hotel which is a 5 star property located very close to the airport. We can also make arrangement with our tour department to assist the passengers with tours and excursions during their short stay as a transit passenger. They could visit the Sound and Light show or the Nile cruise at night. They can also visit the Cairo Tower at night which is spectacular. Everything is arranged by us including transport by bus, transit visa and after their sightseeing they can come back to Movenpick Hotel and the following morning they can catch their onward connecting flight. The transit visa is gratis and is available at the airport.

 

What are the standard tours that one should to take when in Egypt?

The most popular tours are the 8 nights/ 9 days tour comprising of Cairo, Luxor , Aswan and the Nile Cruise. From Aswan one can also go to Abu Simbel which is famous for its temples. You can have a day trip to Abu Simbel, in fact two hours in Abu Simbel and then come back to Aswan or directly fly to Cairo. There are flights between Aswan and Abu Simbel and you can take a coach from Abu Simbel to Abu Simbel airport. 

Many travellers like to go to Alexandria, Sharm el Sheikh and there are many who want to see the Suez Canal. On arrival in Cairo you can book hotels or cars and Egypt Air can locally assist with travel related information as well. 


What is the best time to visit Egypt?

Egypt is a year round destination although in July and August it gets a little hot and this is the best time to visit Alexandria where it is pleasant. Between November and February it gets cooler in Egypt and that is an excellent time to go and visit most of the sights and cities around Egypt. 


What are the impressions about India from an Egyptian perspective?

The Egyptians come asking mostly for the Taj Mahal and they take flights from Mumbai onward to Agra. Also, people in Egypt love Indian films and they know Amitabh Bachchan, Sharukh Khan and other Bollywood stars. There was an event organized by the Egyptian Embassy which was attended by cine star Amitabh Bachchan. The event was also attended by the Tourism Ministry of Egypt and our Ambassadors were also present. It was heartening to hear that Mr Bachchan had visited Egypt thrice and he spoke very positively about our country and he was also the Chairman of the Alexandria Film Festival. He was really delighted to see that the Immigration Officers came to his hotel to stamp his passport rather than him going to the airport and he very much appreciated that.


Like Indians Egyptians too love shopping in India.The hand made material from India is very famous and compared to several countries shopping in India is cheap. Cotton and hand made garments, oils are also very popular amongst Egyptians. Some of my friends from Egypt have visited Goa and had a wonderful time as well. 


What were challenges you faced in your job?

As a local carrier it was the first challenge to offer competitive fares in comparison to some low cost carriers which came into Egypt and tried to lower the price barrier. The second interesting challenge was to promote Egypt outside Egypt to get more inbound traffic. Reduced fares, superior service not only on flight but also at the airport are also critical factors in popularizing the destination and the airline as well. And I will continue my effort out here in India too. 
Importantly, Egypt is a very safe destination unlike some other countries. Cairo is exactly like Mumbai very safe to walk at night. People are very friendly and hospitable to foreigners. The feedback from Indian travellers has been very positive. 

Egypt has also started gaining popularity for films A lot of movies are shot in Egypt and we have a separate film city which is very famous in the Arab world. We need to extend this popularity to other countries including India as well. And if a film is shot in Egypt it is a sure shot success especially in the Arab World as they like our language, our culture and our rich history. 


Is language a barrier?

Not anymore as it is mandatory to study at least two languages in school - English and French are popular and most Egyptians do speak good English especially around tourist areas. 


What are your areas of responsibility?

I have to look after the all India affairs for both passenger and cargo traffic for Egypt Air. I am also controlling the Sri Lanka territory. Many passengers can fly Colombo Mumbai and then Mumbai Cairo.


How did you first enter the Airline Industry?

I entered the airline industry almost 15 years ago after completing my study from the Faculty of Commerce and my Military service. I saw an advertisement in the newspaper and then I applied and I successfully passed the written examinations and was selected as a Counter Staff. After six years I was transferred to the head office as Sales Manager in Cairo with Egypt Air and then I came to India.


What are your interests and hobbies?

I like football and I also like reading, watching television and I spend my spare time with my family who are with me in India.


Your message to readers.

Egypt is a must-see destination. It is safe, cheap with excellent hotel properties, wonderful sights including one of the world's 7 wonders. The people are warm and friendly and it is an ideal place for people who want to have a wholesome holiday with memorable experiences. There are Indian restaurants too but you must try Egyptian food as it is delicious. Come to Egypt this year and you will have a wonderful holiday.