8 charter flights take fans, celebrities to Russia for 2nd game

CAIRO – 18 June 2018: Eight charter flights operated by EgyptAir are expected to take Egypt’s national team fans to Russia on Monday to support the pharaohs during their second match in the World Cup that is set to take place on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay are competing within Group A. Egypt played its first game against Uruguay on Friday; the national team will face Russia on June 19 and Saudi Arabia on June 25.

An airlift between Egypt and Russia has been launched since the beginning of the 2018 World Cup. About 3,000 Egyptian fans are estimated to be traveling to Russia to support the national team. Nineteen charter flights have been operated until now alongside the basic scheduled flights.

Several flights specialized for celebrities departed during the past couple of days to Russia. Another celebrities and media figures' flight departed on Monday morning with Fifi Abdu, Hassan al-Radad, Samir al-Iskandarani and Sherif Mounir onboard.

Flights between the two countries (Egypt – Russia) were halted in 2015 after a Russian passenger jet crashed in Sinai, killing all 224 people onboard. Flights were resumed last April.

Egypt’s national team managed to reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia for the first time since 1990 after beating Congo 2-1 at Borg El Arab Stadium on October 8; this however raised Egyptians' hopes to achieve good results, especially in the presence of Mohamed Salah.