Some flights canceled to Egypt, others half-empty

CAIRO — Cairo airport officials say seven flights to Egypt have been canceled and that others are arriving with less than 50 percent occupancy following weekend clashes that killed 84 people.

Passengers from Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Italy as well as Syria and Lebanon were rerouted Monday onto other planes because of low seat occupancy.

Fewer passengers are coming from Damascus and Beirut because Syrians escaping the war in their country now need visas for Egypt following changes to security rules.

Officials say that more than 55 percent of seats on flights to Cairo have been empty over the past three days. They spoke anonymously as they weren’t allowed to brief the media.

Political turmoil over the past 2½ years has hurt tourism in Egypt, weakening the country’s economy.