The Ministry of Manpower has announced that 12 flights carrying 1,895 Egyptian expatriates stranded in Kuwait arrived in Egypt, on Saturday, at different airports across the country.
In a statement, Minister of Manpower Mohamed Saafan said the Egyptian nationals arrived at Cairo International Airport, Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Airport, and Sohag and Luxor international airports.
Cairo International Airport received 6 flights carrying 105 nationals on board, while Sohag International Airport received three flights carrying 435 nationals, the ministry’s statement read.
Moreover, Assiut International Airport received two flights carrying 210 nationals, whilst Luxor International Airport received one flight carrying 145 stranded nationals on board.
The ministry added that Kuwaiti authorities issued a circular to all airlines, travel and tourism agencies operating in the country protecting the rights of travellers whose flights were cancelled following Kuwait International Airport’s closure due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Haitham Saad El-Din, Official Spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Manpower, said that Saafan received a report from Kuwaiti authorities related to a travellers’ right to request the return of the value of travel tickets. This would also include hotel reservations and other tourism services that were cancelled between 14 March and 31 July.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, Egypt has organised numerous repatriation flights that have so far returned about 3,500 Egyptians home. This was based on their having registered their data with embassies and consulates in the countries where they have lived. Some Egyptian nationals living abroad who did not register their presence at embassies or consulates were also repatriated.
