Marhaba Egyptair!

Marian Benton (Travelbiz), made her way through Dublin Airport to report on the celebration to mark the inaugural Egyptair direct service from Dublin to Cairo.

Our genial host, Paul Nolan (APG) wearing his Egyptair hat, welcomed us warmly and told us that the service has literally taken off with excellent loads and will operate 4 times per week, year-round, on the new Airbus A320 Neo with 16 business and 126 economy seats.

Gary McLean (Deputy Managing Director Dublin Airport) kicked off the speeches by welcoming everyone and said that, after discussions going back many years, it was great to be celebrating the first scheduled air service between Dublin and Egypt.  This year round service will provide opportunities not just to visit Egypt but to connect with Egyptair’s extensive network throughout the Middle East and Africa.

Their Excellencies Khaled Sarwat, Ambassador to Ireland and Sean O’Regan, Irish Ambassador to Egypt both spoke of their pleasure that this service was now operating and how beneficial it would be to both countries.  Ambassador Sarwat said it was another milestone for Egyptair and Ambassador O’Regan reminded us that trade between our two countries is currently worth €300m per annum.

Captain Amr Nabil (Chairman & CEO Egyptair) and currently licensed as both an operational and training Captain, said the new route represents an additional link between our two countries boosting both tourism and trade.   This year Egyptair celebrates its 90th anniversary and was the first airline in the Middle East to join IATA.  Those 90 years have marked many successes and limitless ambition to connect people and cultures all around the world.  And at that moment, and with impeccable timing, the Egyptair flight landed and parked right under our noses.

Also there to mark the occasion were Mrs. Dalia Farid, wife of Ambassador Sarwat, Ms. Nazly El Fayoumy (Deputy Head of Misson Egyptian Embassy) and Mr. Mohamed Mostafa and Mr. Ahmed Dahy (both Egyptair).  Edel Redmond Head of Marketing Dublin Airport) was the epitome of calm as she and her team ensured that everything ran like clockwork.