EgyptAir resumes direct flights with Toronto after Canada lifts travel ban

CAIRO – 18 December 2021: National flag carrier EgyptAir announced the resumption of its direct flights with Toronto as of next Tuesday after Canada announced lifting travel ban 10 African states, including Egypt.  

After it lifted the travel ban, Toronto reimposed its requirement for Canadians taking short trips abroad to get a COVID-19 test before returning to Canada, local media reported.

The 10-country travel ban was brought in when the Omicron variant was first identified but kept in place even after community spread started domestically.

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced the ban would be lifted effective December 18 at 11:59 pm ET.

At the same time Canada is bringing back its requirement for Canadians and permanent residents who travel abroad for less than 72 hours to get a negative COVID-19 test before returning to Canada. That rule was dropped in November amid pushback from business, tourism, and travel groups.

Canada first imposed the travel restriction on travellers from seven African countries on Nov. 26 and then expanded it to 10 countries on Nov. 30 – South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi and Egypt.