EgyptAir cuts key Middle East routes

The airline has canceled flights to Beirut, Amman, Baghdad, and Erbil in the face of regional conflict

EgyptAir has suspended operations to several key regional destinations in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East, the airline announced on Sunday. 

The decision comes amid intensifying hostilities between Israel and Iran. On Friday, Israel launched a series of air raids against Iran, including one that targeted a uranium enrichment center in Natanz and another which assassinated several senior military commanders and scientists. Iran retaliated by firing dozens of ballistic missiles into Israel. The two sides have been exchanging attacks since then.

In a statement, Egypt’s flag carrier confirmed the cancellation of its flights to Beirut, Amman, Baghdad, and Erbil, citing passenger safety. The airline noted that services to these destinations would remain suspended until an improvement in local conditions.

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“Due to the ongoing events in the region and in order to ensure the safety of its customers, EgyptAir announces the cancellation of its flights to Beirut, Amman, Baghdad, and Erbil airports until the situation in the region stabilizes,” the statement read.

On Monday, Ethiopian Airlines announced the suspension of its Addis Ababa-Tel Aviv flights in both directions until June 22, 2025. The Ethiopian national airline issued the update in a public post on X.

Russia’s embassy in Egypt issued a travel advisory on Friday, warning Russian tourists vacationing in Sharm el-Sheikh to remain vigilant amid growing tensions. The embassy emphasized that the resort city is only about 190 kilometers from the Israeli border, and urged Russian nationals to “exercise increased caution.” The advisory was posted on the embassy’s official Telegram channel.

According to Interfax, citing the Russian Union of the Tourism Industry, there may currently be up to 55,000 Russian tourists in Egypt.

READ MORE: War-torn African state orders evacuation of citizens from Iran

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has condemned Israel’s strike, calling it a “blatant and extremely dangerous regional escalation, a flagrant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.”