This archive report was first published on 15 June 2020.
On June 14, 2020, Egypt's civil aviation minister, Mohamed Manar Anba, announced that the country would reopen its airports for scheduled international traffic on July 1.
The decision comes after Egypt suspended regular commercial flights in March due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Minister Anba stated that flights would resume gradually at the airports from the start of July.
Foreign tourism will be limited to resorts in three coastal provinces, following the government's announcement on Thursday that it would reopen Egypt's main seaside resorts for international flights and foreign tourists from July 1.
Measures to ensure the health and safety of foreign tourists will be implemented inside planes, at airports, and in hotels, according to Minister Anba and Tourism Minister Khaled al-Anani.
Travellers from countries with high rates of coronavirus infections, as assessed by the World Health Organization (WHO), will need to be tested before arriving in Egypt.
The pandemic has severely impacted Egypt's tourist industry, which accounts for 5 percent of the country's economic output, according to the government.
However, analysts estimate that the industry may account for as much as 15 percent of the country's economic output if jobs and investment indirectly related to the industry are included.
Domestic flights have continued during the crisis, and hotels have been allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity since June 1.
As of Sunday, Egypt had registered 44,598 cases of the coronavirus and 1,575 deaths, with over 1,600 new cases reported for the second straight day and a daily record of 91 deaths.
