EgyptAir to operate daily flight to Doha after lifting airspace ban on Qatar

EgyptAir announced on Tuesday evening plans to operate a daily flight to the Qatari capital Doha, a day after Egypt lifted a three-and-half-year airspace ban on the Gulf country.

The national flagship carrier may operate a second flight to Doha if demand increases, according to an official statement by Roshday Zakri, the chairman and CEO of EGYPTAIR holding company.

The flight’s operation date is due to be announced once the permits necessary for operation between both countries’ civil aviation authorities are completed, the statement added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Head of Egypt’s Civil Aviation Authority Ashraf Noweir announced the resumption of direct flights between Cairo and Doha.

In June 2020, the country’s Emigration Minister Nabila Makram said there are roughly 70,000 Egyptian nationals in Qatar according to official records, but that the real number probably exceeds 300,000.

Last year, Egypt operated repatriation flights — through Oman’s capital Muscat — to bring home a number of nationals who were stranded in Qatar over the halt of the international flights due to the coronavirus pandemic.