Eight charter flights have been prepared to evacuate 1,400 stranded Egyptians from Beirut and return them home, Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation announced on Sunday.
Informed ministry sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the eight flights are expected to take off over three days from June 3-5 through four trips on the first day carrying 600 people, and four trips on the next two days carrying 800 passengers.
The Egyptian embassy in Beirut has opened the door for Egyptian citizens to submit requests to return home, the sources added.
Upon returning, all passengers will receive medical examinations to ensure they are clear of the coronavirus both inside the arrival halls and before exiting the airports towards the isolation areas.
Passengers returning to the country must spend seven days in designated isolation areas decided by the Health and Population Ministry, according to the World Health Organization’s recommendation to ensure that the returnees are free of infection.
The Civil Aviation Authority announced the suspension of air traffic, whether incoming or out of airports, since March 19.
Air cargo and charter flights, alongside international ambulance flights or domestic flights, were excluded from the decision to allow the return of tourist groups after the end of their programs.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
