CAIRO (Sputnik) — Russian tourists used to represent a large part of foreign visitors to Egypt. A number of countries, including Russia and the United Kingdom, suspended flights to Egypt over safety concerns after an Airbus A321 crashed en route from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg, killing all 224 people on board after an explosive device detonation.
"It is necessary to lift the ban [on direct flights between Russia and Egypt], even if gradually, until the ban would not be lifted completely. Our plea is to allow flights to Aswan and Luxor first, and then to Hurghada and Marsa Alam and then finally to Sharm El-Sheikh," Rashed told RIA Novosti in an interview.
The Egyptian authorities are currently making efforts to improve security in the resort areas and airports in an attempt to restore the flow of tourists.
