CAIRO: Egypt’s airport security is improving but terrorist attacks continued to plague the country this year. Resuming some Russian flights is a small step forward but tourists must also believe the country is safe to visit. Russian charter flights to Egypt’s Red Sea resorts are not part of the resumption yet.
President Vladimir Putin said during a visit to Egypt that Russia will restore flights to Cairo, two years after it suspended air links when terrorists blew up a passenger jet.
“Egypt has done a lot to improve airport security” and Russia wants to sign an agreement soon on resuming flights, Putin said after meeting Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo.
While Russia will continue to forbid 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.
