The Ministry of Civil Aviation said Egypt’s airspace remains open and operating at normal capacity “to receive any potential diversions to the routes of some flights, with full commitment to applying international standards for the safety and security of civil aviation,” as the sudden escalation disrupted regional routes.
Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny instructed airports nationwide, particularly Cairo International Airport, to prepare for emergency landings and transit flights forced to reroute due to closures elsewhere, the ministry said.
Passengers were urged to check with airlines for updates to departure and arrival times as flight schedules across the region shifted.
The developments came hours after the United States and Israel launched major combat operations against Iran. US President Donald Trump announced the strikes in a video statement.
The attacks halted negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme that had continued as recently as two days earlier, amid efforts to prevent further escalation.
Iran later announced retaliatory strikes.
Airspace closures were declared by Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, forcing airlines to suspend or reroute flights across key corridors linking Europe, Asia, and the Gulf.
The strikes mark the second time in eight months that Washington and Tel Aviv have carried out coordinated military action against Iran, raising fears of broader regional disruption, including to commercial aviation.
Egypt said on Saturday it is ready to receive flights diverted from neighbouring countries after at least eight states across the Middle East shut their airspace following coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said Egypt’s airspace remains open and operating at normal capacity “to receive any potential diversions to the routes of some flights, with full commitment to applying international standards for the safety and security of civil aviation,” as the sudden escalation disrupted regional routes.
Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny instructed airports nationwide, particularly Cairo International Airport, to prepare for emergency landings and transit flights forced to reroute due to closures elsewhere, the ministry said.
Passengers were urged to check with airlines for updates to departure and arrival times as flight schedules across the region shifted.
The developments came hours after the United States and Israel launched major combat operations against Iran. US President Donald Trump announced the strikes in a video statement.
The attacks halted negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme that had continued as recently as two days earlier, amid efforts to prevent further escalation.
Iran later announced retaliatory strikes.
Airspace closures were declared by Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, forcing airlines to suspend or reroute flights across key corridors linking Europe, Asia, and the Gulf.
The strikes mark the second time in eight months that Washington and Tel Aviv have carried out coordinated military action against Iran, raising fears of broader regional disruption, including to commercial aviation.
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