Pressure builds to end ban on Sharm flights
Russia has resumed flights to and from Egypt, intensifying pressure on the UK Government to resume flights to Sharm el Sheikh.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has authorised airlines to re-start commercial flights between the two countries following a two-year suspension.
Amr El-Ezabi, director UK & Ireland for the Egyptian State Tourist Authority, said it was a clear sign of Russia’s confidence in the aviation and airport security standards that Egypt has introduced.
"We hope this will encourage flights back to Sharm el-Sheikh from the UK so that travellers can return to the destination," he said.~
Russia suspended all flights to Egypt, not just Sharm el-Sheikh, immediately after the 2015 crash of a Russian Metrojet aircraft shortly after take-off.~
Other countries quickly followed suit by suspending flights to Sharm, citing security concerns with the airport.
The Egyptian government has since invested £20 million to improve airport security, working with a British aviation security firm.
All European countries, except for the UK, have now allowed flights to resume. ~
EgyptAir will initially operate services from Cairo to Moscow three times a week from next month, with announcements on charter flights to holiday destinations resuming expected to follow shortly.~
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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