Pressure mounts to reinstate Sharm flights
Pressure is mounting on the UK Government to reinstate flights to Sharm el Sheikh following a recent official visit to Egypt.
Sir Gerald Howarth MP, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Egypt, is urging the British Government to take a swift decision on lifting the ban on flights which has been in force since last year.
During the group’s week-long visit, officials were given a briefing on the security procedures introduced at the airport and across the resort.
According to the Egyptian Tourist Office, the group were taken air-side for an inspection of the handling of baggage at the airport.
"We thought that they’d put in some pretty sophisticated checks there and we think a lot has been done," said Sir Gerald.
"But, most importantly, we talked to a representative from the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport who also felt that conditions had been met to enable flights to resume."
He said he has since been in touch with the Prime Minister’s office and has, on behalf of the group, written a letter urging her to make a swift decision.
Commercial flights from the UK were suspended last autumn after the Russian Metrojet, which had just taken off from Sharm, exploded over the Sinai killing all 224 passengers and crew.
Russian authorities claim the crash was caused by an explosive device planted on board, although this has been denied by Egypt.
Earlier this year, Germany relaxed its ban on checked in luggage on flights to Sharm, which had also been in place since last October’s Metrojet disaster.
Last month, Prime Minister Theresa May promised the UK government would continue to work closely with Egyptian authorities to end the suspension.
Speaking to Egypt’s President Sisi, the PM said she recognised ‘the economic effects of the suspension, given the importance of the tourism industry to Egypt’s economy’.
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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