Egypt's first direct flight to Iran took off on Saturday from the Cairo International Airport to Tehran. It is the first flight to connect the two countries in 34 years. Privately-owned Air Memphis plane is the first direct flight between Egypt and Iran since ties were severed after the latter's 1979 Islamic revolution. Egyptian Aviation Minister Wael Al-Maaddawi said on Saturday that Iran and Egypt had signed an agreement to promote tourism, pointing that charter flights would arrive to Aswan's airport on Saturday bringing the first group of Iranian tourists. Meanwhile, the minister said on Saturday that the Cairo International Airport will be closed to aviation for four hours on a daily basis, starting a power saving plan in summertime. Maaddawi explained that only one terminal will be operating during this time to receive flights. “This decision will be implemented starting June, all airline companies will be informed of it at least one month and a half prior to its application,” the minister said in a press statement as reported by the Middle East News Agency. Maaddawi added that the airport is not affected by the power cuts due to the presence of electricity generators, yet “the government prioritizes saving energy." He pointed that most countries of the world have already taken that step. BN
