Although Egypt appears to have met the British Government’s requirements regarding security measures at Sharm el Sheikh airport, imposed when it banned flights there from the UK in late 2015, it seems that the continuation of the ban has now become a matter of “sustainability”.
In answer to a question from Lord Dear, a member of the All-Parliamentary Group on Egypt which is pressing for a resumption of flights, Department for Transport spokesman Lord Ahmed of Wimbledon has now stated that: “We look forward to achieving the return of flights once we can be assured that the necessary security environment can be sustained.” The statement leaves open-ended a time-frame for resumption of flights.
Lord Dear had asked what assessment the Government had made of the impact on the British tourism and airline industries of the ban on air flights between the UK and Sharm el Sheikh.
The question was not answered directly, but in his response Lord Ahmed stated that: “UK aviation security experts have worked closely with their Egyptian counterparts on the ground, sharing their expertise in establishing effective security arrangements. We continue to work in partnership in a spirit of co-operation, and are grateful for Egypt’s close engagement and partnership.”
Britain banned flights into Sharm following the fatal downing of a Russian airliner as it left the airport in November 2015. Turkish Airlines flights from Istanbul began again this September, flights from Germany restarted in early October and Belgium’s Jetairfly has also recently resumed flights.
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