Wiping Israel off the map

Wiping Israel off the map was formerly the aim of Iran's President Ahmadinejad but it seems that Egypt Air has got there first. The Telegraph report the story thus:

'Israel has quietly dropped off Egypt Air’s route map this week.

The airline’s explanation is that “flights to Tel Aviv are operated by Air Sinai, which is a separate company.” It explains that “our website exclusively show destinations to which our own EA flights travel to.”

I’ve been unable to find a phone number, website or postal address for Air Sinai. That’s because it doesn’t seem to exist.  Wikipedia states it “ceased airline operations in its own right in 2002 and operates as a ‘paper airline’ for its parent company, Egypt Air.”

Like a fair few other people, I suspect, I’m wondering if this is a sign of things to come in the Egypt-Israel relationship, because of the growing influence of people who would like to see Israel erased from maps, not just route maps.'

 The trouble with that explanation is that Egypt Air's route map purports to include 'code shares'. 
Maps of the World  says this about Air Sinai:

'In order to run scheduled flights between Egypt and Israel, EgyptAir launched its subsidiary, Air Sinai, in the year 1982. This route was previously served by the Nefetiti Aviation. Presently Air Sinai, operating under EgyptAir, also runs a number of charter flights to various destinations. Air Sinai also runs wet lease services for other airlines.

The central hub of Air Sinai is Cairo in Egypt from which it operates Flights to Tel Aviv in Israel. Therefore, the only destination of Air Sinai, besides Cairo, is Tel Aviv. The airline runs three weekly flights from Cairo to Tel Aviv. Air Sinai also runs a number of charter flights between Egypt and Israel.

The fleet of Air Sinai consists of only one aircraft namely Boeing 737-500. This sole airplane of Air Sinai has served the airline for years without a mark on its body.

The airline offers several in-flight services and facilities. The services of Air Sinai include complementary food and drinks, various articles for in-flight shopping, newspapers, magazines and special facilities for old people and for the sick.

Contact: (Main Office)
Address:
Nile Hilton,
Cairo,
Egypt'

It looks as though Egypt Air was ashamed of its flying to Israel even before the recent revolt; I wonder why?


It should be remembered that Israel captured the whole of the Sinai during the 1967 war and gave it all back to Egypt in return for peace. The Sinai being larger in area than Israel and containing oil fields.