Russian official: Resuming flights to Egyptian resorts currently impossible

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovitch said that the immediate resumption of Russian flights to Egyptian resorts is currently impossible.

Dvorkovitch made these remarks to the Russian press on the sidelines of an investment forum held in Sochi, southwest Russia, following his return from Kuwait where he participated in the Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq.

“Yesterday in Kuwait, I was approached by the Egyptian deputy foreign minister who asked when the resort cities will be open (for air traffic – TASS). I said there is no such an opportunity now,” Russian news agency TASS quoted Dvorkovitch as saying.

On the other hand, the Russian official asserted that air traffic between Russia and the Egyptian capital Cairo would be resumed late February.

Moscow has taken the decision to resume flights to the Cairo International Airport= after the Egyptian authorities strengthened security measures at the airport, in compliance with Russian demands, according to the same source.

Russia: Egypt received anti-ballistic missile system

Moscow had stopped flights to Cairo in October 2015 after a Russian plane crashed shortly after taking off over the Sinai Peninsula, killing all the 224 people on board.

Egypt is keen on the resumption of flights, whether between Moscow and Cairo or with Egyptian sea resorts, in the hope of restoring Russian tourism, which had been stalled since November 2015.