Strict measures at Egyptian airports as air traffic resumes in July, some visitors will get PCR test

CAIRO - 18 June 2020: The Ministry of Health will determine the countries whose nationals will be required to perform a PCR upon arrival to Egypt when the country resumes receiving flights, said Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Enaba.

In a Tuesday press conference, Enaba added that the Health Ministry’s decision will be based on the World Health Organization’s announcements of countries where Covid-19 is widespread.

In airplanes, social distancing will be followed and the number of passengers may be reduced after consultation with the concerned international institutions, he continued.

Institutions that organize civil aviation at a global scale refused the reduction of the number of passengers on a plane but obligated all airlines to hand out face masks to passengers, according to Enaba.

As Egypt prepares for the return of flights in July, the minister said that “strict measures” are applied before boarding to Egypt, and planes are disinfected after each flight. No meals or publications will be distributed to reduce physical interaction with the passengers.

Passengers who may exhibit symptoms of Covid-19 during the flight will be “quarantined” in the back seats.

No new schedules have been set, but the ministry will operate the regular flights to and from countries that will also have resumed air traffic by July.

Further, thermal cameras are being installed at all Egyptian airports, especially in the arrival and departure halls.

Egypt is hopeful the summer season will bring back tourists after many countries, including Egypt, closed off to travel in March. It has announced significant offers and prices for tourists and travel agencies.

Egyptian airports have lost LE 969 million during the shutdown. But they also operated hundreds of flights to evacuate tourists, an act that was applauded by the U.K. and Italy and bring back 57,000 Egyptians stuck abroad.