Air Cairo (SM, Cairo International) has placed its first direct order with Airbus, signing a firm agreement for the purchase of fifteen A320neo aircraft at the El Alamein International Airshow 2026.

In a joint statement with the manufacturer issued on September 8, 2026, the majority EgyptAir-owned carrier said the order marks a strategic shift towards direct ownership, which it expects will provide greater operational flexibility and financial efficiency as it expands its network.

"This agreement represents a natural next step in Air Cairo's growth," commented chairman and CEO Hussein Sherif. "Combining owned aircraft with our leased fleet gives us greater operational flexibility and financial efficiency as we scale up."

He added: "The A320neo will provide the capacity needed to expand our network, serve the growing demand for travel to and from Egypt, and support the country's aviation and tourism sectors in close partnership with Airbus."

Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP for commercial aircraft sales, confirmed that the transaction was the first direct acquisition from Air Cairo.

The statement did not specify any specific aircraft variant or variants beyond "A320neo". Contacted by ch-aviation, an Airbus spokesperson declined to elaborate.

Air Cairo has grown from seven aircraft five years ago to a fleet of 41 today, with ambitions to operate more than 130 aircraft by 2034. It already operates 20 dry-leased A320-200Ns with one more on order, according to ch-aviation data, while the rest of the fleet comprises twelve A320-200s, six ATR72-600s, and three E190s.