In a post on its Facebook page, the US embassy congratulated Egypt on the first direct flight between Cairo and Newark earlier this week

The embassy added that the new connection will help US tourists visit Egypt and Egyptian tourists and students go to the US.

EgyptAir now operates direct flights from Cairo to four US cities: New York, Washington, Los Angeles and Newark, the embassy affirmed.

The first direct flight coming from Newark landed in Cairo International Airport on Sunday morning as part of the new flight route announced in mid-April.

The plane was given the customary water salute.

EgyptAir has recently announced plans to operate three direct flights per week between Cairo International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport using its latest Boeing B787-9 aircraft.

Tens of thousands of Egyptian immigrants to the US who live in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut Metropolitan area use JFK in New York to fly back home.

Meanwhile, prior to the pandemic, more than 500,000 Americans visited Egypt anually.

Egypt received a record-breaking 1.35 million tourists in April, marking a significant milestone for the country’s tourism sector that has been recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa said on Monday that the country expects a total of 15 million tourists in 2023 – a figure which, if met, would break the 14.7 million record set in 2010.