► EGYPT: Prospects for Air Memphis' continued Iran charters fade as Cairo suspends tourism ties with Tehran.

As previously speculated, the change in power in Cairo has led the country to suspend tourism links with Iran for what Minister of Tourism, Hisham Zazou, stated were "reasons of national security". Mr Zazou's statement comes just 5 months after the then Islamist-backed government of Mohammed Morsi reached out to Tehran in a bid to restore relations, severed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

► EGYPT: Air Memphis, at last, begins flights between Egypt and Iran.

Egyptian carrier, Air Memphis (MHS), has at long last launched operations between Egypt and Iran following the arrival of its DC9-30 in Tehran on Friday, May 31. The jet then ferried a plane load of Iranian tourists to the Egyptian tourist town of Aswan, the head of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, Mohammad Sharif, confirmed.

► EGYPT: Air Memphis forced to suspend Tehran flights after just 1 week following sectarian protests.

Just one week after having launched Egypt and Iran's first direct air link in over 30 years,  Air Memphis (MHS), the Egyptian charter operator, has been forced to suspend the flights after protests broke out at the Iranian ambassador's residence in Cairo just prior to Saturday's inaugural flight.