Mogadishu(Mogadishu24)-Egypt Air inaugurated its first direct flight from Cairo to Mogadishu, landing at Aden Abdulle International Airport on Friday. The inaugural flight was marked by a vibrant reception, with Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Moalim Fiqi welcoming his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, along with a high-profile delegation from Egypt.
In his remarks, Minister Fiqi emphasized the significance of the new direct flights in enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries.
"It is a great pleasure for me to welcome a delegation from our brotherly country Egypt led by H.E. Badr Abdelatty, including the Minister of Civil Aviation, in Mogadishu today. The commencement of Egypt Air's biweekly flights from Cairo to Mogadishu demonstrates Egypt's commitment to strengthening our cooperation," he stated.
Fiqi highlighted that the direct flights align with Somalia's vision for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and will bolster economic ties and opportunities.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty expressed his government's dedication to deepening the historic ties with Somalia, especially during the current sensitive situation in the Horn of Africa.
"Launching this direct flight is part of our broader cooperation in areas of security, culture, and defense," Abdelatty said. He also reaffirmed Egypt's support for Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, clearly rejecting any unilateral moves against Somalia.
EgyptAir's Boeing 747-737 will operate two weekly flights from Cairo to Djibouti and Mogadishu, accommodating 140-160 passengers. Established in 1920, EgyptAir is the oldest passenger carrier in Africa and the Middle East, serving 87 destinations worldwide.
"The inauguration of this direct flight line between Egypt and both Djibouti and Somalia comes within the framework of keenness to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and ties between the peoples of the three countries,” the Foreign Ministry of Egypt said in a statement later.
With the addition of Egypt Air, the number of international airlines operating in Somalia has increased to almost ten, including Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Ugandan Airways and Djibouti Airlines.
This new service is expected to enhance connectivity and foster stronger economic and diplomatic relations between Egypt and Somalia.