Iran, Egypt to Start Direct Flights Soon

Iran and Egypt plan to start direct flights in the next few weeks, a senior Egyptian official said.

Egypt’s Civil Aviation Minister Wael al-Maaddawi said direct flights in the form of charter flights will resume between Iran and Egypt.

Maaddawi was quoted by Egyptian daily Al-Ahram as saying on Wednesday that the flights will link Iran with three Egyptian cities of Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel.

A private carrier owned by businessman Ramy Lakah is expected to run the new routes, the Egyptian minister stated.

Late in January, Head of Iran’s Interests Section in Cairo Mojtaba Amani and al-Maaddawi explored avenues for the further expansion of ties between the two Muslim countries specially in the field of aviation.

During the meeting held in Cairo, the two sides conferred on the establishment of direct flights between the two countries.

In August, the then Egypt’s Civil Aviation Minister Samir Embaby had called for the start of direct flights between Tehran and Cairo due to the two nations’ enthusiasm for making reciprocal visits.

After the collapse of Hosni Mubarak’s regime, the Iranian and Egyptian officials voiced their interest in the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries.