Air Cairo (SM, Cairo International) has become the second Egyptian airline to fly to Israel but the first to operate directly from Sharm el Sheikh to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion under an agreement struck between the Egyptian and Israeli governments earlier this year.
The leisure-focused airline, which is 60%-owned by flag carrier EgyptAir, inaugurated the 3x weekly route on May 3 and will use A320-200s.
Air Cairo joins three Israeli carriers - Arkia Israeli Airlines, Israir, and El Al Israel Airlines (under the Sun d'Or International Airlines leisure brand) - which each offer 3x weekly services to Sharm el Sheikh. The number of flights is expected to increase during the summer season as each of the Israeli airlines has been authorised to fly up to 5x weekly.
Last year, EgyptAir began operating to Tel Aviv under its main brand, rather than through a special purpose subsidiary Air Sinai (Cairo International). The flag carrier only flies to Israel on a scheduled basis from Cairo International. None of the Israeli carriers serves the Egyptian capital or any other city except Sharm el Sheikh.
Israel and Egypt tentatively agreed in September 2021 to open up the market between the Red Sea resort city Sharm el Sheikh and Tel Aviv. The agreement was finalised in March 2022, marking a breakthrough in aeropolitical relations between the two countries.
Despite the liberalisation, travel between Israel and Sharm el Sheikh remains restricted to holders of return tickets. Egypt does not allow one-way ticket holders to enter the country.
Egypt has had diplomatic relations with Israel since 1979, when it became the first Arab country to recognise its neighbour.
