Egypt to operate exceptional flights to repatriate nationals

Egypt’s Aviation Ministry will operate exceptional flights within the next two weeks to repatriate Egyptians stranded abroad, Al-Ahram reported on Monday.

The flights will be sent to eight cities: Beirut, Oman, Muscat, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Baghdad and Sydney.

The repatriated nationals will be medically examined at airports, and the health ministry will decide how and where they will be quarantined, Al-Ahram added.

Egypt’s suspension of air traffic aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic continues until further notice.

Egypt is mainly keeping its airspace open to cargo and domestic flights, during the flight suspension, which has been in place since mid-March.

Egypt is just operating flights to repatriate its citizens abroad and has returned home at least 12,000 Egyptians so far.

Cabinet Spokesman Nader Saad said on Saturday that Egypt is considering a ‘gradual resumption’ of international flights in the second half of June or the first half of July.