• EgyptAir received its first of 16 ordered Airbus A350-900 aircraft on February 9
• Initial familiarization flights will operate on existing routes to London and Paris
• New nonstop services to Los Angeles and Chicago are scheduled for mid-2026
• The A350 fleet will gradually replace the carrier’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft

EgyptAir reached a notable operational milestone today, February 9, 2026, by taking delivery of its first Airbus A350-900. The aircraft, registered as SU-GGE, arrived at Cairo International Airport following a four-hour delivery flight from the Airbus facility in Toulouse. This delivery is the first of 16 A350s ordered by the state-owned carrier as part of a comprehensive fleet modernization strategy designed to support its intercontinental growth and replace aging Boeing 777-300ER vessels.

The new A350-900 is configured with 340 to 350 seats in a two-class layout, including 30 or 32 business class suites. Before entering long-haul service, the aircraft will be deployed on shorter “trunk” routes to London and Paris for crew familiarization. EgyptAir intends to use these fuel-efficient jets to anchor its North American expansion, with plans to launch new direct routes to Los Angeles in May 2026 and Chicago in June 2026. The Los Angeles service is expected to be the longest nonstop flight in the airline’s history, spanning approximately 7,600 miles.

This fleet expansion aligns with a broader $4.5 billion development project at Cairo International Airport, which includes the construction of a new Terminal 4 scheduled to open by 2029. By 2030, Egypt aims to grow its national airline’s fleet to 125 aircraft to support a national goal of attracting 30 million tourists annually. The transition to the A350 is expected to improve operating economics by 25% compared to previous-generation aircraft, providing the range and efficiency necessary for the carrier to compete on prestigious global routes.