Egypt Air is expanding its fast-growing network further with the launch of a twice weekly service between Khartoum, Sudan, and the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.

The launch follows shortly after the introduction of a twice-weekly service from its Cairo hub, via Khartoum, to Southern Sudan’s capital city of Juba.

The national flag carrier is keen to build close ties with the sub-Saharan countries that also support a bilateral aid agreement.

In Eastern African in particular, Cairo-based investment firm Citadel has recently acquired a major interest in the rail operator Rift Valley Railways. In Southern Sudan, an aid offer has been made towards infrastructural projects worth US$300 million.

In other news, Egypt Air has also struck a deal with in-flight communications provider OnAir to offer inflight passenger communications services on the first of Egyptair’s fleet of twin-aisle Airbus 330-300 aircraft.

Egyptair customers will be able to stay connected inflight using their mobile phones or smartphones and access the internet by connecting their laptops wirelessly.

OnAir provides GSM/GPRS and Wi-Fi internet. Mobile OnAir uses Inmarsat SwiftBroadband services from Inmarsat fourth generation satellites.

The aircraft operates between Cairo and London. More are scheduled to be equipped in coming months.