Israel’s primary airliner, EL AL, has closed its office at Cairo International Airport and halted flights between Cairo and Tel Aviv since late 2012, according to airport sources who said the company, since then, has not requested any renewal for operation permits.
The sources attributed the hiatus to deteriorating aviation movement between both countries following the January 2011 revolution, noting that the halt added to the company’s economic woes.
Currently, aviation between both countries relies on flights by Egypt’s Air Sinai, as well as casual flights by EgyptAir Express. The majority of passengers are either transit users, Arab Israelis, and Israel-bound Coptic pilgrims.
Egyptian aviation sources said an agreement signed following the 1979 Peace Treaty between both countries allows Israeli airliners to run flights, and added that closing EL AL’s bureau does not prevent it from resuming work at any time.
Edited translation from DPA
