Canada ban on EgyptAir cargo flights lifted: Minister

CAIRO – 19 April 2018: After more than two years of suspension, the Canadian government has decided to lift a ban on EgyptAir’s direct cargo flights, a Ministry of Trade and Industry statement said Wednesday.

"The decision would contribute to increasing the competitiveness of Egyptian exports to the Canadian market, particularly the agricultural crops," said Minister of Trade and Industry Tarek Kabil.

“The decision came after efforts exerted by the Egyptian Commercial Representation Bureau in Montreal in coordination with the Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry,” Kabil added.

The Civil Aviation Ministry arranged a visit of a delegation from the Canadian Ministry of Transport to Egypt.

Canadian officials have reviewed the procedural and security arrangements regarding EgyptAir's cargo direct flights to Toronto in Canada, Kabil said.

Egypt is currently working on increasing its exports as one of the main sources of national income and hard currency.

The government has managed to increase its non-oil exports by 9 percent to exceed 21 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, according to an official report released in January.