Amid the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, Egypt’s Hurghada International Airport reported on Wednesday the highest operating rate for international flights since the onset of the pandemic in March, according to airport sources.
Wednesday witnessed 25 inbound international flights, most of which were from Ukraine, Britain, Poland, Germany, Moldova, and Switzerland.
The flights carried a total of 2500 tourists of various nationalities.
The airport also received two domestic flights and five private flights.
Meanwhile, a major Polish tourism company announced that the amount of Hurghada-Poland flights has increased to five per week since December 20, as hundreds of Polish tourists decided to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays at Red Sea resorts.
Tourism sources in the Red Sea confirmed that Marsa Alam International Airport has received 12 flights during the past days, including six flights from Poland, three from the Czech Republic, two flights from Ukraine, and one from Switzerland.
Since the onset of the the world’s second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, travel bans and fears of traveling have cause massive unemployment in Egypt’s tourism industry. Many resorts have entirely suspended their operations, as they are unable to pay their employees.
In response to the ailing sector, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism launched a campaign to certify that establishments are following the government-mandated precautionary measures to protect against the virus.
The campaign includes inspections and the formation of follow-up committees.
While most establishments have been given the green light to operate, the precautionary measures have significantly cut profits.
Egypt reported 911 new coronavirus cases and 42 virus-related deaths on Wednesday.
The country has cancelled all New Year’s Eve celebrations in light of the severe uptick in cases.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
