All inbound and outbound flights between Bahrain and Egypt will function as normal in the coming days, despite reports of neighbouring Gulf countries suspending airline services.

Gulf Air, Egypt Air and Bahrain Air will continue to run flights to Cairo and Alexandria despite some Bahrainis flying back from Egypt yesterday onboard a special Gulf Air flight, which had been laid on to evacuate them from the political turmoil.

Some arriving passengers revealed they had spent days sheltering at Cairo International Airport, which they said was the safest place in the country.

The first batch of evacuated Bahrainis returned at around 5pm and were relieved to finally set foot on home soil.

'There was no police, no food and no place to stay for several Bahrainis and Gulf nationals,' said Ali Al Matrook, who had gone to Cairo on holiday last week with his wife Fatima Taweel.

He told our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN) upon arrival at Bahrain International Airport that it was a vacation he wanted to forget.

'Many people were gathered at Cairo International Airport. This was the only safe place to be in Egypt - things were out of control and we watched news on television,' he said.

His wife added the airport was flooded with people from all nationalities including Chinese, Koreans, Japanese and other Gulf citizens.

'We had no food and wanted to return, but most of the flights were cancelled because of the unrest,' she said after being hugged by waiting relatives in the arrivals hall.

The special Gulf Air flight brought more than 30 passengers back home in the afternoon, but another flight in the evening was booked with more than 80 passengers.

'As the national carrier of Bahrain it is our responsibility to ensure our Bahraini nationals are brought back home,' said Gulf Air chief executive officer Samer Majali.

'We are co-operating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation Authorities and other officials in Bahrain and Egypt to bring our passengers as safely and soon as possible.'

Among those who returned was veterinary medicine student Suha Ahmed, 23, who said she locked herself indoors to avoid the anti-government protests in Egypt.

'It was dangerous and I stayed in my room with other students. The streets were empty but I could hear some noises,' she said.

Another passenger, Mohammed Ebrahim, 22, enrolled in a military college in Egypt, put it much more bluntly.

'Egypt is not safe,' he said.

'We spent almost two days at the Cairo airport. Flights were cancelled, delayed or overbooked.

'I am happy to be back here with my family.'

More than 700 Bahraini students are enrolled in Cairo University, which has been rocked by violence and looting over the past few days.

Passenger Mustafa Al Jowder told the GDN that before he left Egypt thugs were even knocking on doors and asking for valuables.

'Anyone would knock on your door and ask for your television, drinking water or anything,' he said.

'Most of them asked for money and we had no option.'

The US Department of State yesterday issued a travel advisory recommending its citizens avoid travel to Egypt due to ongoing political unrest.

A similar travel advisory was also issued by the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office advising against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez.

Bahrainis in Egypt are being urged to contact the Bahrain Embassy in Cairo on +20227357997 or +20227366605.

However, Gulf Air will continue to fly the bigger A340 aircraft to Egypt today and an A330 tomorrow on its scheduled flight GF 071/GF 070 to and from Cairo to accommodate more passengers.

Its Bahrain-Alexandria flights GF 075/GF 076 will operate earlier than the scheduled time to comply with a curfew now in effect.

'We are in constant touch with the officials and will take immediate further steps as and when necessary,' added Majali.

Gulf Air yesterday advised passengers scheduled to fly to Cairo or Alexandria at a later date and who want to change their travel plans to contact the Gulf Air World Wide Contact Centre on 17335777.

Meanwhile, a travel consultant at the Bahrain International Airport told the GDN that Egypt Air flight MSR920 would depart tomorrow from Cairo at 2.55am and arrive in Bahrain at 6.45am.

An outbound flight will leave Bahrain at 7.45am and reach Cairo at 10.10am and the consultant said there were no plans to change the service.

Bahrain Air operates flights to Alexandria's Borg El Arab airport and Al Nozha, with its next flight scheduled on Friday from Borg El Arab airport. It is expected to depart from Alexandria (BN415) at 2.45pm and arrive in Bahrain at 6.30pm.-TradeArabia News Service