The first Rossiya Airlines plane landed in Hurghada on Monday after the 2015 ban on flights between Russian cities and Egyptian resorts was lifted. This information was confirmed to TASS at the airport of the resort city.
As clarified in the air harbor, the plane landed about 12:25 local time (13:25 Moscow time).
Earlier, the first EgyptAir airline plane arrived in Hurghada after Russia resumed flight communication with the resorts of the Arab Republic. In addition, the first Russian plane after nearly six years will also arrive in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday.
At the exit of the ramp in the airport building passengers are met by bouquets of roses, sweets, and small bags with gift souvenirs with the inscription "Welcome back!" or "Welcome to Hurghada!" In addition, local musicians perform various compositions in the air harbor on a small improvised stage.
As told in an interview with the news portal El Balad, the deputy head of the Ministry of Health of Egypt in the Red Sea Province, Tamer al-Marei, "local authorities have made all necessary arrangements in terms of anti-epidemic safety". On arrival, tourists must provide a document of a negative result of PCR testing for COVID-19, made no later than 48 hours in advance. The procedure can also be done as an emergency on the spot for $30. Those who have a certificate of vaccination against coronavirus do not need PCR testing.
About the resumption of flights
Flight service between Russia and Egypt was completely interrupted in November 2015 after the crash of a plane of the Russian company Kogalymavia flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg in Sinai. There were 217 passengers and seven crew members on board, all of whom died. The FSB qualified the incident as a terrorist attack. In January 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to resume regular flights to Cairo, but charter flights to Egyptian resort areas remained closed until now. Over the years, the Egyptian side has improved the system of screening, control and inspection of passengers and luggage, as well as significantly upgraded the airport infrastructure.
On July 8, 2021, Putin rescinded the 2015 decree banning Russian airlines from flying to Egyptian resorts. On July 23, the operational headquarters for the fight against coronavirus infection reported that air links with Egyptian resorts on the routes Moscow - Hurghada and Moscow - Sharm el-Sheikh would be resumed from August 9.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS