Launching of flight operation of Egyptair, the state-owned flag carrier of Egypt, between Dhaka and Cairo is likely to get delayed due to increase in airport taxes worldwide. “Due to Coronavirus pandemic, the Egyptair, like other airlines, has to readjust taxes in their reservation system at different destinations across the globe. Thus it is taking time,” Farhad Hossain, executive director and chief operating officer of the Alo Dhaka Aviation, the general sales agent (GSA) of Egyptair, told UNB. Earlier on September 11, Egyptair announced its direct regular flights from Dhaka to Cairo on November 1, 2021. Read: US-Bangla to resume Dhaka-Kolkata flights from October 21 “Now, it could be delayed, and we hope we could be able to launch the non-stop flight operation on Dhaka - Cairo - Dhaka sometime in December,” Farhad added. He said that all the necessary arrangements and preparations are in progress to make a regular flight operation of Egyptair. He noted two flights a week would initially operate between Dhaka and Cairo. “The frequency of the flight operations will be increased further from January 2022,” he said. Egyptair has operations to over 80 destinations in different cities worldwide, including 15 domestic destinations in Egypt. Officials of ALO Dhaka Aviation Limited – GSA of Egypt Air said they would announce several packages for the passengers and tour operators to encourage people to visit historical tourist sites in Egypt, including pyramids and some other attractive museums. In addition, many Bangladeshi nationals who live abroad can also travel through Egyptair to take transit in Cairo to their destinations across the world as the airline has huge connectivity with other cities, and Egypt Air is a member of Star Alliance. Read: Bangladesh-India flight frequency ‘to increase’ Egyptair officials said the start of its direct flights between Dhaka and Cairo would offer an excellent opportunity for different stakeholders to visit Egypt, Europe, Africa, and North America. In addition, it would reflect the exchange of businesses, cargo, and hosting Bangladeshi students in Egyptian universities and tourists who would come to explore the multifaceted Egyptian tourism they hoped. Egyptair, headquartered at Cairo International Airport, currently has a fleet of 69 modern aircraft and operates scheduled passenger and freight services to over 80 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Egyptair, the state-owned flag carrier of Egypt, has announced to launch its direct regular flights from Dhaka to Cairo from November 1. Speaking on the occasion at a function at a city hotel here on Saturday, Haytham Ghobashy, the Egyptian Ambassador to Bangladesh, said this flight operation will establish direct airline communications between the two countries. Read: EgyptAir, ALO Dhaka Aviation sign MoU to operate Dhaka -Cairo flights   He said many Bangladeshi nationals who live abroad can also travel through Egyptair to take a transit in Cairo on the way to their destinations across the world as the airline has huge connectivity with other cities.      

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between EgyptAir and ALO Dhaka Aviation Ltd in Cairo to operate two scheduled Dhaka-Cairo flights every week, starting November 2021. Although the state-owned flag carrier of Egypt is now operating at 65% of its capacity, it agreed to start Cairo-Dhaka-Cairo direct flights to boost the country's vital tourism sector. Read NOVOAIR to operate six flights daily to Cox’s Bazar However, this will provide a cheaper option for Bangladeshi passengers and cargoes destined for Europe and North America, being an alternative to Dubai and Istanbul. "Our expatriates and businesspersons are expected to get benefitted as well," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sunday. Read Bangladesh imposes restrictions on passenger flights from 11 countries