Egypt expects in October to restore air service to Russia – BBC

The air flights between Russia and Egypt can be restored at the beginning of October this year. This was stated by the Minister of Civil Aviation of Egypt Sherif Fathy, the Egyptian news agency reports ElWatan News

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According to the official, this period was discussed during the talks with the Russian side. Sherif Fathi also noted that the report of the inspection of the Russian who visited the Egyptian airports to check, said that air traffic will start to gradually renewed in some airports of the country. The Minister stressed that the Russian side is also interested in the restoration of flights to Egypt as soon as possible.

Later, Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov confirmed that the flights will be resumed gradually in some Egyptian airports when they reach the required degree of safety. “Upon reaching the level of safety in each airport, [Egypt], we will raise the issue in front of the country’s leadership about the possibility of the resumption of charter flights are not all immediately airports, and any one of them” – said Sokolov

. But the definition of the exact timing of restoration of air links, the Russian side has refrained. The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) “Gazeta.ru” explained that while talking about it early.

«In front of us waiting for the next audit of the security measures implemented at airports in Egypt . Therefore, the specific timing of the resumption of air links between the countries not yet been established “, – said the representative of the Federal Air Transport Agency.

The main requirement of the Russian side are measures to improve safety in Egyptian airports. According to statements by Egyptian officials, Arab Republic has already completed 85% of the demands made by Russia to resume air communication. In particular, new baggage inspection system and upgraded external and internal camera CCTV installed and tehsredstva radar. In addition, it has been strengthened control service personnel access to the service areas of the airports: Now there can only be accessed by magnetic cards

The next visit of the Russian delegation of aviation inspectors to Egypt is scheduled for August 28th. , inspection facilities will begin on August 29 reported earlier officials of Egypt.

Russia has banned its airlines to fly to Egypt from November 6 last year. This decision followed after October 31 Sinai crashed Russian plane “Kogalymavia” airline, which flew from Sharm El Sheikh to St Petersburg. On board were 224 people, all of them were killed. The basic version of the incident was the terrorist attack.

Later, the head of the Russian Ministry of Transport Maxim Sokolov reported that flights to Egypt will be resumed after the execution of Egyptian security requirements. The Russian side since January last year, has already held a number of checks on safety measures in Egyptian airports.

Tourism is one of the main revenue items of the Egyptian budget comparable to operating income from the Suez Canal. According to the Ministry of Tourism of Egypt, the tourism industry gave 11.3% of GDP and provide more than 14% of foreign exchange earnings to the Treasury

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In 2015, the income from the tourism industry accounted for $ 6.1 billion in the first quarter of 2016 revenues decreased by 66%, to $ 500. million, according to the Ministry of Tourism of Egypt.

with the closure of air traffic between the country and Russia, and even a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, Egypt suffered heavy losses. In particular, at the beginning of this year, it was reported that the loss of the tourism industry in Egypt from November 2015 till February 2016 amounted to approximately $ 2.3 billion. In this case, local officials have repeatedly stated that 2016 would be the worst in the history of tourism in Egypt .

was about 10 million foreign tourists Before the crash on Sinai tourist flow to Egypt at the end of 2015. In the first place in the number of tourists coming to Egypt was Russia: in 2015, Egypt was visited by 2.24 million Russian tourists. In 2014, in Egypt as tourists left 2.57 million Russians in 2013 – 1.91 million Russians

This year, the number of tourists dropped by half

during the first half of 2016, Egypt was visited by 2.3 million tourists in all – it is twice less than in the same period last year (4.8 million people)

. According to consulting company Colliers International, the occupancy rate in hotels in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh will fall in 2016 by 46 percentage points – Up to 32%. At the same time significantly reduce the price of Egyptian hoteliers can not be solved in some cases cheaper hotels close than to continue to work at a loss. The annual average price for a room in Sharm el-Sheikh in 2016 will be reduced by only 8%, to $ 47, predicts Colliers.

According to the director of marketing for the network of travel agencies “1001 Tour” Mary Konabeevoy winter in Russia there is no alternative to a beach holiday, so the opening of Egypt will be very helpful.

«This budget line, with good hotels and short-lived flight. If it is open, then this country will be redistributed bulk of the autumn-winter tourist traffic. At this time, Egypt has always been a leader. When he closed, gained popularity among tourists, Thailand, Vietnam and India. If Egypt will open, then these countries will lose a significant part of the Russian tourist traffic “, – she said

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