Bulgaria and Egypt will work to start regular air routes between the two countries

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Georgi Gvozdeikov, and the Minister of Civil Aviation of Egypt, Mohamed Abbas Helmy, discussed the signing of a new Air Transport Agreement. Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov and Deputy Minister Anna Mikhneva-Natova are part of the delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Gabriel, who is visiting the Arab country.

"The signing of a new Agreement would provide the necessary conditions for regular air routes according to EU legislation and the development of commercial relations and access to different markets for air carriers," emphasized Minister Gvozdeikov during the talks.

The currently valid bilateral document was signed in 1959. It does not allow for the appointment of carriers from the European Union, other than Bulgarian, on the established air routes between Bulgaria and Egypt. In 2016, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Sofia between the aviation authorities of Bulgaria and Egypt, and four air routes from Sofia to Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh were approved. At the moment, there are no regular direct flights between the two countries.

"Transport is undoubtedly a priority area in the economic relations between our two countries. Strengthening cooperation in air transport will reduce restrictions on routes, increase the frequency of flights and create an opportunity for greater flexibility in pricing," said Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov. He was categorical that the new Agreement will be beneficial not only for carriers, but will also have a positive effect on the development of tourist and business travel between the two countries.

During his visit to Egypt, Minister Gvozdeikov also met with the Minister of Transport of Egypt, Kamel Al-Wazir. The two discussed steps to deepen cooperation in the field of railway and maritime transport, as well as the possibility of opening a Ro-Ro line between the port of Burgas and the Egyptian ports of Alexandria/Dameta. The Egyptian side expressed interest in concessioning the Bulgarian ports and shared its experience in building infrastructure for high-speed trains.