(The Southern African Times) – Egypt welcomed on Thursday Russia’s decision to lift the ban on charter flights by Russian airlines to Egyptian Red Sea resorts after around six years of suspension, said the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in a statement.
“Egypt expresses its aspiration for the speedy return of Russian tourism to Egyptian resorts, which would enhance bilateral cooperation in the tourism field,” it added.
Issued in November 2015, a few days after a Russian plane crashed over the Sinai Peninsula leaving 224 fatalities, the ban was annulled earlier on Thursday by a presidential decree from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Before Thursday’s decision, only Russian regular flights to Cairo and official flights to Egypt were allowed.
The Russian flight suspension greatly affected the tourism industry in Egypt, for Russia used to be a top source of tourists for Egypt’s popular Red Sea resorts of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada.
