Back in October 2015 6 years back a local branch of the Islamic State group in Egypt claimed responsibility for bombing a Russian airliner over Sinai. During the attack, the Islamic State group managed to down the Russian airliner, killing all 224 passengers on board. The attack happened shortly after the aircraft took off from the Red Sea Resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Years after the Islamist insurgents attacked the Russian aircraft, the Russian government banned all flights to Egypt. The Russian government said they made the decision because they believed Egypt’s security procedures at Egyptian airports were insufficient. This week, however, the Russian government decided to resume flights to Egyptian resorts on the Red Sea. The government’s decision put an end to a bad that had lasted around six years.
Six years later flights from Moscow to Egypt resume
This week EgyptAir flight MS724 ended the long ban when it took of from Moscow with 300 tourists. The Airbus A300-330 headed for a popular Red Sea destination landed hours later after take-off in Hurghada.
When the plane landed Egypt’s national carrier made a public announcement of its safe arrival in Egypt. Additionally, the plane was welcomed in Egypt by a ceremonial “water salute” on touchdown. Most of the Russian tourists wearing facemasks were greeted with flowers and balloons upon disembarking.
After the arrival of the Airbus EgyptAir said they would operate seven flights from the Russian capital to Hurghada and Sham el-Sheikh, on the tip of the Sinai Peninsula. According to the airliners’ statement, the first EgyptAir flight from Moscow to Sharm el-Sheikh would happen this week.
Rosaviatsiya, Russia’s official aviation body, has approved eight Russian carriers to fly to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh from 43 Russian towns. The list, however, does not include St. Petersburg, the final destination of the Russian airplane that was shot down over Sinai.
Resumption ordered because Egypt increases security measures
For the time being, Rossiya, a subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned flagship carrier Aeroflot, appears to be the only Russian airline offering scheduled flights. The airline will fly people from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport to the two Egyptian Red Sea resorts. Its flight FV5361 arrives in Hurghada early Monday afternoon. Another flight FV5633 to Sharm el-Sheikh will follow an hour and a half later.
According to their websites, other Russian airlines approved to fly from Moscow to Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, such as Aeroflot’s low-cost affiliate Pobeda and S7 Airlines, Russia’s largest privately-owned carrier, have no flights scheduled in the coming days.
Flights resumed to Egypt from Moscow a month after Russian President Vladimir Putin canceled orders suspending the flights after the 2015 disaster. Firstly, the flights from Moscow to Cairo resumed in 2018 after the President made the order. According to experts the flights only resumed because Egyptian officials beefed up security at Cairo’s international airport. Talk’s over restoring direct travel to Red Sea resorts however dragged on till this year.
Russia’s ambassador to Egypt Georgy Borisenko revealed to the public that the resumption of flights to Egypt was not an easy one for Moscow. The ambassador ascertained that Egypt’s airports and resorts had however dramatically increased security measures. Due to this Russian tourists who enjoyed Egyptian hospitality and missed the Red Sea would have a safe and comfortable stay.
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