Russia confirmed that the government will re-launch the flight services to Egypt’s capital city Cairo, two years after it suspended the air links when the terrorists blew up a passenger jet.
Russia said that Egypt had developed its tourism sector and the security is developing at large, so that they will withdraw the ban on the flight services to Cairo, which is a best initiative to boost the tourism of both countries.
Egypt has done a lot to improve airport security and Russia wants to sign an agreement soon on resuming flights, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday after meeting Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo. While Russia will continue to prohibit charter flights to the Red Sea resorts of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, the decision marks the first easing of the ban since it was imposed after 224 people on board the Russian jet died in the October 2015 explosion over the Sinai Peninsula.
The Cairo services may recommence in February, Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov told reporters, adding that more work is needed to ensure security for charter flights to the Egyptian resorts.
As many as more than 3 million Russians visited the tourism enhanced country Egypt for the pyramids and the 4000 years old necropolis, annually before air connections were stopped, which deprived the economically struggling Middle East nation of 70 percent of its tourist arrivals and the tourism expenditure.
