benberg2013

I've read about Air Sinai, that they operate a flight CAI - TLV - CAI on behalf of Egyptair. I still am not quite sure how connected they are.

I've finally booked myself onto one of these flights. I've a few points.

If you try to search online for this flight, u will not find it ( well I didn't). Apparently, othersve said on trip advisor etc, they have an office in TLV to pay cash. Or throughsome specialised Travel Agents. But doesn't seem like regular OTAs can book this flight.
In addition, this flight seems outrageously expensive,aapparently around five hunfred dollars.

Well what I was looking for was to stop in CAI on my way from TLV to London.
So I searched as a multi city flight, using kayak, and, bingo, it allows me to book with Expedia, first leg with Air Sinai, and second leg from Cairo to London with Egyptair. Costing a grand total of 300 US Dollars for both flights - TLV - CAI - LHR.
And the eticket is 077 for egyptair.
This shows that it is really quite connected to Egyptair, allowing egyptair ticket, but still cannot book through egyptair due to "political reasons".
So still a small mystery what exactly is the Egyptair - Air Sinai relationship.

(A side point: I ordered kosher meal using booking reference on egyptair website, for both flights. On myflightsapp it says confirmed for the second flight but on first it says HN. What does that stand for? Assume no kosher food on Air Sinai )

I was also wondering which type of people go on these flights? And do they make money from this flight?

I'd also like to know if my Star Gold status gives me extra luggage on the air Sinai flight?

TaipeiWang

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Sinai look here. more here http://www.diytravelshow.com/point-of-view/airsinai/. Seems you can try to use your *A status

nombody

The Air Sinai flight is probably so short that there are no meals at all on the flight anyway. Thats why you cant book a kosher meal.

benberg2013

Thanks ^

TPJ

See here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...ights-tlv.html

deltatrav

I wonder if Air Sinai will disappear now that Emirates, Gulf, Etihad, FlyDubai etc are all flying to TLV. I see now reason to keep up the charade.

rafi2k6

UAE is much more open & forward-thinking than places like Egypt, not the mention the ongoing problems Egypt faces from various terrorist factions camped out in the Sinai.

I don't see MS openly operating to TLV anytime soon. They're no benefit for them or for the travelling public.

Regionally MS brings nothing to the table in terms of destinations that RJ and TK haven't already? Why stick their neck out for negligible gain?

momoflyingguy

so why do they fly at all?

moe8555

It's stipulated in the peace agreement.

rafi2k6

+1 exactly. LY used to send 737's down to CAI as well.

See above, but also because there is a certain level of government and business-related traffic between the two countries. Not much in the way of leisure travellers.

ly787

cargo as well

TWA884

EgyptAir has applied to operate 21 weekly flight between Cairo and Tel Aviv (Globes).

ETA: More details on i24NEWS.

moe8555

One of the EgyptAir senior executives must have seen this thread and decided to act!!!

M60_to_LGA

I wonder what their target market is. Foreign tourists? The Egyptian government doesn't really like its people traveling to Israel, and most Israelis who go to Egypt stick to Sinai. How are they going to fill three flights a day?

Aha - I found the answer to my question at the end of the article:

Quote:

.הכוונה של אג'יפט אייר היא להציע טיסות המשך מקהיר, נמל הבית שלה, למגוון יעדים

So they're bargaining on getting Israelis to make connections on international flights in Cairo. Does this make any sense? It's not like Egypt Air has a great service reputation, and unless I'm trying to get from TA to somewhere unusual in Africa like N'Djamena, why would I want to fly Egypt Air? Also, don't Israelis need a visa for non-Sinai Egypt anyway?

Ditto

They don't need to have great service, just a cheap one, granted with GCC airlines the competition won't be easy but if RJ managed to fly 3x daily why can't MS? Destination doesn't even have to be "unusual" in Africa given that there are very little flights in that direction anyway.
I wouldn't be surprised if PAX connect in CAI to go to DXB and the likes if it will be cheap enough.
As for visa requirements my guess is Israelis don't or won't need a visa just to transit CAI.