Egypt's Minister of Civil Aviation Ahmed Shafiq and Iranian vice president and tourism chief Hamid Baghai oversaw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Sameh Hefni, who heads Egypt's Civil Aviation Authority and Hamid Ghavabesh, deputy chief of the Iranian national aviation company. “This accord will replace the one signed between both countries in 1976 and is in line with the developments in air transport,” Hefni said.
Hefni said the agreement provides for 28 flights between Cairo and Tehran per week, but does not specify when flights will resume. There was no explanation of what led to the deal, and an Egyptian government spokesman could not be reached for comment. Under the agreement announced Sunday, a privately owned company called Egyptian Mission will regulate and organize the weekly trips to Iran.
Ties between Tehran and Cairo have been severed since 1980 in the wake of the Islamic revolution in Iran and Egypt's recognition of Israel. Since then the two countries have maintained only interest sections in each other's capitals.
