Egypt and Iran are to resume direct flights between their capitals, 30 years after severing diplomatic relations.

The head of Egypt’s aviation authority Sameh Hefni and deputy chief of Iran’s national aviation authority Hamid Ghavabesh signed a memorandum of understanding on 3 October. Egypt’s civil aviation minister Ahmed Shafiq and Iran’s vice-president and tourism chief Hamid Baghai were also present.

“This accord will replace the one signed between both countries in 1976 and is in line with the developments in air transport,” Hefni says.

Under the terms of the agreements, 28 flights will be allowed between Cairo and Tehran each week. It is not yet clear when the flights will resume.

Ties between Tehran and Cairo have been strained since 1980 following Iran’s Islamic Revolution.