UK’s direct flights to Sharm El Sheikh resume after four-year hiatus

Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh International Airport will receive Thursday afternoon Britian’s  first direct flight after four year suspension. About 167 British tourists will arrive on board of a charter flight to Egypt’s Red Sea resort city.

South Sinai Governor Khaled Fouda hailed the measure, attributing this progress to the efforts exerted by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to support Sharm El Sheikh.

He added that Britain’s decision to lift travel restrictions on Sharm El Sheikh sends a message to the whole world that Sharm is a safe city, especially after adopting international security measures.

The UK’s direct flights to Sharm were suspended following the crash of a St Petersburg-bound flight in North Sinai in October 2015. The UK government has worked with Egyptian authorities to enable flights to resume, and on 22 October 2019 the restrictions were lifted.

During the phone call on Wednesday with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, President Sisi lauded the positive development in Cairo-London relations, especially after the British government’s recent decision to resume direct flights to Sharm El Sheikh airport.

The president accentuated that Egypt is looking forward to increased cooperation in various fields, in particular on the economic, political, security and tourism levels.

The timing of resuming UK’s flights to Sharm significant as it follows the World Youth Forum (WYF) which wrapped up in Sharm El Sheikh almost two days ago. During the WYF, President Sisi sent a message of peace and love to the whole world.

About 7000 youths from various parts of the world attended the forum which witnessed the participation of a galaxy of senior international officials and top officials of heavyweight companies.

A number of world figures who took part in the World Youth Forum have praised the role played by Egypt in achieving security and stability in the region.

The wide participation in the World Youth Forum will give momentum to tourism in the Red Sea resort city which is not only an amazing city, but also safe and secure.