Russian aviation security experts will start inspecting the airports of Egyptian resorts Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh on Thursday as part of plans to resume direct flights, the newspaper Akhbar el-Youm reported, citing sources in Egypt's civil aviation ministry.
"Russian specialists will conduct an inspection on Thursday at Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh airports," the sources said. They noted that Egyptian airports are ready, with security measures in accordance with international standards.
Earlier, a source at Hurghada hub told RIA Novosti that the delegation of experts arrived in Egypt on January 27 and will stay here until February 5.
On Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister Mohammad Manar received experts from Russian aviation security companies and discussed with them the implementation of the contract, under which the Russian side will take care of the development of Egyptian airspace.
It is planned that, in particular, the experts will inspect the Hurghada Airport's Terminal 2. They will assess security measures in arrival and departure halls, screening of passengers and luggage, checking security officers' presence in allocated places, and tracing the whole process of preparing on-board food for passengers until it is delivered to the plane.
Russian experts last inspected Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh airports in January 2020.
Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told RIA Novosti that Moscow hopes that flights with Egyptian resorts will resume rather quickly. According to him, Russia and Egypt are now working together in this direction. Bogdanov stressed that security issues are a priority.
Air service between Russian cities and Egyptian resorts was suspended in November 2015 after the crash of a Russian airliner over the Sinai Peninsula. Regular flights to Cairo were restored in April 2018, while Egyptian resorts remain closed to charters from Russia. Several delegations of Russian aviation security specialists inspected Egyptian airports.
The Kogalymavia Airbus A321 crashed in Sinai on October 31, 2015. All 217 passengers and seven crew members on board died. The Russian Federal Security Service classifies the incident as an act of terrorism.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from RIA Novosti