Egypt to add more flights from India by 2010-end

New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) As part of its strategy to
attract more tourists from India, Egyptian authorities are
planning to raise the number of flights between the two
countries by the end of this year.
At present, there are three flights between Egypt and
India and the plan is to increase it to seven each week.
"We are planning to start operations of the rest of the
four flights. Though we hope to start all the four, at least
Delhi to Cairo, we expect to start this year," Egyptian
Ambassador to India Mohamed Higazy said here.
He said the country expects to almost double the number
of Indian tourists visiting Egypt to around 1.5 lakhs by the
end of this year.
As part of its plan for more tourists, it is looking at
adding flights, including from Chennai, Hyderabad and
Bangalore.
At present, only Egypt Air is operating flights between
the two countries, flying thrice a week from Mumbai.
Higazy said discussions are on with private airlines like
Jet Airways, Kingfisher and Air India for the service.
"India is our top agenda and as we try to build cultural
ties between the two nations, we expect more Indians to visit
Egypt. Our aim is to double the number to around 1.5 lakhs by
this year," he said. PTI