CAIRO: Egypt’s civil aviation minister says the country’s airline industry has lost more than 1 billion Egyptian pounds as a result of the unrest that led to the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
Ibrahim Manaa told reporters Tuesday that over 60 percent of the losses were to national carrier, EgyptAir, while the remainder came in losses at the country’s various airports.
More than 150,000 foreign tourists fled the country during the 18-day uprising that began on Jan. 25.
EgyptAir was hard hit, canceling at as many as 75 percent of its flights and most recently offering to lease some of its newest planes, along with crew, to offset projected losses.
