Coronavirus: Egyptian private airlines seek government intervention

Egyptian private airlines have called the civil aviation ministry to help them cope with losses incurred because of the Coronavirus pandemic, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) reports.

The ministry on its facebook page said chairmen of the companies have sought the ministry’s help to stop the bleeding of losses suffered by the private companies and help them overcome this crisis.

Egypt was the first African country to report a first coronavirus case on February 14. The country has since then confirmed 710 cases and 46 deaths, while 157 of the infected patients have recovered.

To curb spread, authorities suspended all flights for two weeks on March 19. The measure has been extended to two other weeks to start from April 1, MEMO reports.

Minister Mohammad Manar Enabah reportedly met Tuesday with a number of chairmen of boards of directors and representatives of Egyptian private airlines companies to discuss the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the private aviation sector.