The Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov and the Minister of Civil Aviation of Egypt Mohamed Abbas Helmi discussed the signing of a new Air Transport Agreement. Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov and Deputy Minister Anna Mihneva-Natova are part of the delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Gabriel, which is visiting the Arab country today.
The signing of a new Agreement would ensure the necessary conditions for scheduled air services in accordance with EU legislation and the development of commercial relations and access to different markets for air carriers,’ Minister Gvozdeikov stressed during the talks.
The current bilateral document was signed in 1959. It does not allow the appointment of carriers from the European Union, except Bulgarian, on the established air routes between Bulgaria and Egypt. In 2016, a Memorandum of Understanding between the aviation authorities of Bulgaria and Egypt was signed in Sofia, with four air routes from Sofia to Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh. There are currently no scheduled direct flights between the two countries.
Transport is undoubtedly a priority area in the economic relations between our two countries. Strengthening cooperation in air transport will reduce route restrictions, increase the frequency of flights and create more flexibility in pricing,’ Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov said. He was adamant that the new Agreement will not only benefit the carriers but will also have a positive effect on the development of tourism and business travel between the two countries.
During his visit to Egypt, Minister Gvozdeykov also met with Egypt's Minister of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir. They discussed steps to deepen cooperation in the field of rail and maritime transport, as well as the possibility of opening a Ro-Ro line between the port of Burgas and the Egyptian ports of Alexandria/Damietta. The Egyptian side expressed interest in the concession of the Bulgarian ports and shared its experience in the construction of infrastructure for high-speed trains.
