EgyptAir operates exceptional flight to New York to bring stranded Egyptians back

CAIRO - 1 April 2020: EgyptAir's exceptional flight No. 981 left for New York on Wednesday to return the stranded Egyptians after flights to and from Egypt were suspended on March 19.

The decision to operate these exceptional flights came as part of the Egyptian government's plan to evacuate Egyptians abroad after flights were suspended due to coronavirus.

In an interview with Ahmed Moussa on Sada Al-Balad, a private TV channel, Minister of Immigration Nabila Makram noted on March 31, that many Egyptians residing abroad are willing to return, but the authorities prioritize those who left the country via visitor visas.

Egyptian expats wishing to return to Egypt amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic will be quarantined for 28 days as a precautionary procedure to prevent the virus outbreak. Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry announced that this procedure will be implemented starting Tuesday March 31.

EgyptAir concluded on March 31, its exceptional flights to evacuate 1,500 Egyptians stranded in Kuwait. The fifth exceptional flight to bring back Egyptian nationals stranded left the Gulf country on March 30, carrying 350 Egyptians, Kuwaiti state news agency KUNA reported.

The 350 passengers included 14 people expelled for violating the residence law.

The fourth flight was operated on March 29, with 303 Egyptian residents on board, bringing the number of Egyptian nationals who departed Kuwait in the recent evacuation flights to 1293 people.

The flights were operated in coordination between the Kuwaiti authorities, the Egyptian Embassy in Kuwait and the Egyptian flag carrier EgyptAir.