Final week I shared my tackle how I contemplate Cairo to have the worst main worldwide airport on the planet. That’s simply my opinion, primarily based on having traveled by way of the airport a numerous variety of instances over time.
For that matter, I hardly view that as being such a controversial take. Which airport with 20+ million passengers yearly is worse? Do some individuals assume Cairo must be ranked as one of many world’s finest airports?
Effectively, I feel my days of visiting Cairo Airport could also be over, as a result of the nation’s authorities is accusing me of mendacity, and is threatening me for spreading false info.
Admittedly I do know my job comes with some dangers, however I’ve gotta say, in my practically 17 years of running a blog, that is maybe essentially the most weird response I’ve ever seen from a authorities to any adverse story I’ve written. So until you assume Cairo Airport is the best on the planet, be sure you preserve it to your self! I do know Egypt isn’t essentially essentially the most pro-free speech place on earth, however I wasn’t anticipating a Pyongyang-esque response.
My criticism of Cairo Airport went viral in Egypt
Over the previous few days, a number of readers have instructed me that my criticism of Cairo Airport goes viral in Egypt. I didn’t assume a lot of it, however then yesterday I noticed the under clip, the place I suppose my story was coated throughout a serious information program, hosted by broadcaster Amr Adeeb.
If I’m understanding what he’s saying accurately, a blogger (me) made a report about Cairo Airport, which he calls “a really dramatic report” and “an terrible report.” He then goes on to principally acknowledge that Cairo isn’t the most effective or largest airport on the planet, and that it has issues, that the airport’s capability isn’t sufficient for the demand. He additionally questions my experience or credentials to evaluate an airport. Sorry, however:
- What credentials does he assume you want to have the ability to share your opinion on an airport on-line?
- I feel I’ve ample firsthand information with airports to chime in on passenger expertise
Egypt’s Minister of Aviation assaults me
It’s not simply that the information in Egypt has picked up on this, however Egypt’s Minister of Aviation has even gotten concerned. He has known as my claims baseless, and has mentioned that the nation will “take all crucial authorized motion in opposition to those that try and hurt the credibility and popularity of the civil aviation sector by way of unfounded allegations.”
Right here’s the wildest a part of all — the federal government believes that the aim of my journey to Egypt was not for “tourism or any official function,” however fairly was “geared toward undermining Cairo Airport.” I’ve additionally seen some individuals recommend that I’m on the payroll of a international airport administration firm, and that I used to be attempting to damage the airport’s popularity to get a brand new contract for them?
Proper, and I’m the one making up baseless claims? As any OMAAT reader is aware of, I used to be in Cairo for one easy purpose — the airport has among the many most cheap premium airfare on the planet, so I usually place myself there (effectively, previous tense at this level).
My expertise at Cairo Airport is taking over a lifetime of its personal. A narrative written in the Al-Marsad newspaper in Egypt makes the next claims (I’m utilizing Google Translate, so I’m unsure if that was the intent or not, however I’ll view “the worst on the planet blogger” title as a badge of honor):
A international blogger angered the Egyptians, after he posted a video wherein he mentioned that he was subjected to ill-treatment at Cairo Airport, and that he was compelled to attend hours till his procedures have been accomplished.
The worst on the planet Blogger Ben Schlappig claimed that Cairo Airport is “the worst on the planet,” accusing the workers of aggression. He wrote in his well-liked journey weblog, “ONE MILE AT A TIME,” that he had a foul expertise in Cairo.
Unfounded, the Egyptian Minister of Aviation, Sameh Hefny, responded to those allegations, saying that they have been fully baseless.
He defined in an intervention on the “Al-Hekaya” program on MBC Misr that the ministry will publish, immediately, Sunday, a video supported by info to reply to these false rumours.
He additionally revealed that the blogger who attacked the airport used fabricated movies, stressing that he didn’t take care of any of the employees, and stood filming the group for half an hour, realizing that he left the airport in solely 18 minutes, in response to what surveillance cameras confirmed. As well as, it was thought-about that there are makes an attempt to focus on Cairo Airport and warp its picture.
Sure, certainly, Egypt’s Ministry of Aviation has revealed a video of me on the airport “supported by info,” which I’ll handle in a distinct publish. However I truthfully haven’t any clue what the federal government is speaking about with that final paragraph:
- I used fabricated movies? Huh? I don’t take movies, and definitely didn’t share any in my publish in regards to the airport
- I stood filming the group on the airport for half an hour? Once more, huh? I don’t take movies, and definitely didn’t stand anyplace for half-hour filming something
- The story additionally references how I declare I “was compelled to attend hours” on the airport, solely I by no means made that declare? Humorous sufficient, I price Cairo Airport so low although I don’t discover the traces to be very lengthy, which ought to inform you one thing 😉
Anyway, the federal government did a weird and creepy degree of monitoring of me at Cairo Airport, together with publishing movies of me on the airport, which the federal government claims show that I’m mendacity… solely they don’t? Like I mentioned, I’ll be addressing that intimately in a separate publish.
Finally I’m the one who will lose out right here by way of now not getting access to some low cost premium airfare out of Cairo, however I’ll be advantageous, and if something, they’re doing me a favor. That being mentioned, the Egyptian authorities actually is digging itself a gap right here:
- Egypt is continuous to attempt to develop its tourism trade, so threatening international vacationers for merely sharing a adverse opinion of the airport on-line doesn’t precisely instill confidence within the nation
- Moderately than accepting constructive suggestions and even ignoring it, the federal government is as a substitute amplifying this adverse suggestions, and making up unfaithful claims about me
- It’s clear the federal government has no real interest in bettering the airport, because it’s claiming that every part that I (and plenty of others) say is unfaithful; in response to the federal government, everyone seems to be pleasant, nobody asks for suggestions, and every part is completely orderly, and if you happen to disagree, you should be there particularly to sabotage the airport
- Does the federal government not have something higher to do…?
Backside line
I suppose my days of frequent journey by way of Cairo Airport are over, because the nation isn’t proud of my criticism of the airport. I simply shared my tackle why Cairo has the worst main airport on the planet primarily based on my many visits over time, however apparently that implies that I’m simply making stuff up.
Standby for half two, as a result of this will get even wilder, with the federal government making some actually unusual accusations in opposition to me. Like I mentioned, I’ve been doing this for practically 17 years, and that is little question one in every of my wildest conditions, and offers the Aegon Mykonos saga a run for its cash.
What do you make of the response of Egypt’s authorities?
