Theresa May in talks with Egyptian president over lifting of Sharm flights ban
Prime Minister Theresa May has promised the UK government will continue to work closely with Egyptian authorities to end the suspension of flights to Sharm el-Sheikh Airport.
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’.
According to a Downing Street spokesperson, May also praised the Egyptian government’s ongoing efforts to improve security at the airport.
The talks came as local Egyptian newspapers reported the handover of security screening at Sharm airport to National Falcon Company for Airport Security has been postponed.
The handover, due to take place this week, will now happen in the second half of August.
In June, the UK Government announced that British company Restrata would deliver a six-month programme of training to 7000 Falcon Group personnel, who have been tasked by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to provide security at airports across Egypt.
According to Al-Borsa newspaper, the handover to Falcon at Sharm has been delayed while it waits for Civil Aviation Authority permits and because Falcon has not yet finished the training of its personnel on inspection equipment of airports.
But Falcon CEO Sherif Khaled said the decision to postpone the takeover is due to the delay in the relocation of security personnel houses near the airport.
He said 80% of its security personnel had now undergone Restrata training.
Falcon will also take over security operations at Cairo Airport’s Terminal 2 in October, and longer term will take over security at Hurghada and Luxor airports.
Commercial flights between the UK and Sharm el Shiekh were suspended in November after the Russian Metrojet exploded over the Sinai killing all 224 passengers and crew.
It had just taken off from the airport at the Red Sea resort.
Russian authorities claim the crash was caused by an explosive device planted on board, although this has been denied by Egypt.
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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