Russia announced yesterday that it will not resume flights to Egypt after an EgyptAir flight was hijacked and forced to land in Larnaca Airport, Cyprus.
State-run television channel, Russia Today, quoted the country’s Tourism Industry Union spokeswoman Irina Tyurina saying that the hijacking will delay the resumption of Russian flights to Egypt.
Tyurina said the information and news which have been circulating regarding the resumption of flights between Egypt and Russia are unconfirmed.
First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Council’s Committee on Defence and Security, Frants Klintsevich, said that yesterday’s events ruled out any chance of a resumption of talks regarding the return of flights to Egypt.
Klintsevich added that Egypt is “not ready” to ensure the safety of Russian tourists, according to Russian TV.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in mid-March that his country is seeking to resume flights to Egypt as soon as Russia is confident that safety measures being undertaken ensure the security of Russian citizens.