Air Memphis
Air Memphis was an Egyptian charter airline based in Cairo and later renamed Air Leisure.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Air Memphis was an Egyptian charter airline headquartered in Cairo, with its principal operating base at Cairo International Airport. The airline was established in August 1995 and began operations in March 1996. Its business was centered on charter passenger air transport rather than a clearly documented large scheduled network. In addition to Cairo, it maintained branches in several Egyptian tourism and regional-travel centers, including Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel. These locations placed the carrier within Egypt's tourism-oriented aviation ecosystem and connected it with destinations served by leisure and charter traffic. The available reference material does not identify the original founder, a detailed fleet history, route-by-route network, financial performance, or a continuously operating corporate parent. It does, however, record that Air Memphis had 530 employees as of March 2010, indicating a substantial operating organization at that point in its history. The airline also operated some flights to Iran, demonstrating that its activities were not limited solely to domestic Egyptian routes or tourism corridors. A major ownership and management change occurred in 2013, when the company was bought by Egyptian businessman Ramy Lakah. Following the acquisition, Khalid Hassanain became chief executive officer. The new ownership subsequently changed the airline's name to Air Leisure. This rebranding marks the end of Air Memphis as the carrier's operating brand in the available historical record. By December 2016, Air Memphis was reported as operating no aircraft. Taken together, the rename and the absence of aircraft support treating Air Memphis as a defunct or discontinued brand rather than an active airline, although the precise legal status of the underlying company is not established by the available sources. Air Memphis's historical significance lies primarily in its role as an Egyptian charter operator serving a network of tourism locations and selected international markets. Its trajectory illustrates the importance of charter aviation in Egypt, followed by ownership change, executive transition, and a later brand conversion to Air Leisure. No verified current website, stock listing, ticker, or financial figures are available for the brand.
History
Air Memphis was established in Egypt in August 1995 and commenced airline operations in March 1996. It operated as a charter carrier based in Cairo, with Cairo International Airport serving as its main base. The carrier also maintained branches in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel. These bases and branch locations corresponded with Egypt's major tourism and archaeological destinations, suggesting a business model closely connected with leisure travel and charter demand, although the available sources do not provide a complete description of its commercial arrangements or route schedule. The airline's documented activities included passenger flights within its Egyptian operating environment and some services to Iran. The source material does not establish whether these Iranian services were scheduled or charter operations, nor does it provide reliable details of frequencies, aircraft assignments, passenger volumes, or revenue. Similarly, no complete fleet list is available in the supplied references. Air Memphis nevertheless appears to have been a sizeable employer: it had 530 employees as of March 2010. In 2013, Ramy Lakah acquired the company. The transaction was accompanied by a leadership change, with Khalid Hassanain becoming chief executive officer. After the acquisition, the new owner changed the airline's name to Air Leisure. This decision effectively replaced Air Memphis as the public-facing airline brand and represents the principal endpoint of the Air Memphis name in the available record. The sources do not specify the exact date of the renaming, the legal mechanism used, or whether all assets and operating permissions were transferred to the successor brand. By December 2016, Air Memphis was recorded as operating no aircraft. In combination with the earlier renaming, this supports classifying Air Memphis as defunct or discontinued as a brand. The available material does not conclusively document a formal liquidation, regulator-issued revocation, or precise cessation date, so the status should be understood as a practical brand and operating conclusion rather than a fully documented legal dissolution. No verified current website, stock-market listing, financial data, or detailed ownership structure is available.
- 2016
No aircraft reported in operation
[1]As of December 2016, the airline was listed as operating no aircraft.
- 2013
Ownership and executive change
[1]Ramy Lakah bought Air Memphis, and Khalid Hassanain became chief executive officer.
- 2010
Workforce recorded at 530 employees
[1]The airline was reported to have 530 employees as of March 2010.
- 1996
Operations begin
[1]Air Memphis began airline operations in March 1996.
- 1995
Air Memphis is established
[1]The Egyptian airline was established in August 1995.
Products and positioning
Egyptian charter airline serving passenger and tourism-related air transport markets.
Airline service · 1996
Charter passenger air transport
Air Memphis's principal documented business was charter passenger aviation from Egypt. The carrier was based at Cairo International Airport and maintained branches in several tourism centers, including Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel. The available material does not specify the charter partners, aircraft types, schedules, or individual package-tour arrangements.
Airline service
International passenger flights
The airline also conducted some flights to Iran, showing that its activity included an international dimension beyond its Egyptian bases. The available reference does not establish whether these services were scheduled or charter flights, how long they operated, or which Iranian destinations were served.
Brand decisions
2013
Acquisition by Ramy LakahM&ABackground
Air Memphis underwent an ownership change when Ramy Lakah bought the company.
Action taken
The airline was acquired and placed under new ownership, with Khalid Hassanain appointed chief executive officer.
Aftermath
The new ownership later changed the airline's name to Air Leisure. No transaction value or other financial terms are available.
- Rebranding as Air LeisureStrategy
Background
After the 2013 ownership change, the new owner changed the airline's name.
Action taken
The Air Memphis name was replaced by Air Leisure.
Aftermath
Air Memphis ceased to be the documented operating brand. By December 2016, the former airline was reported as operating no aircraft.
Recent events
- 2016
Air Memphis reported with no operating aircraft[1]
Other
As of December 2016, Air Memphis was reported as operating no aircraft.
- 2013
Ramy Lakah acquires Air Memphis[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Ramy Lakah bought the airline, followed by the appointment of Khalid Hassanain as chief executive officer.
- 1996
Air Memphis begins airline operations[1]
Other
The airline, established the previous year, started operating flights in March 1996.
Air Memphis is renamed Air Leisure[1]
Other
Following the ownership change, the new owner changed the airline's name to Air Leisure.
Sources2 sources
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