Russia, Egypt discuss security companies in Cairo airports

CAIRO – 16 December 2017: Minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy stated on Saturday that Russia and Egypt will carry out negotiations with private security companies to sign agreements regarding security in Egyptian airports, according to Sputnik news website.

The details of the agreement will be announced soon, Fathy said, adding it is not yet agreed whether they will be Russian or Egyptian companies.

An Egyptian-Russian cooperation protocol in maintaining civil aviation security was signed on Friday after a meeting between Fathy and Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov in Moscow, Egypt’s aviation ministry said in a statement.


The protocol intends to resume flights between Cairo and Moscow for the first time since 2015, starting in February 2018, the statement added.

The Russian Information Agency Novosti reported that the protocol on aviation security will begin working temporarily after 30 days.

Egyptian Aviation Minister Fathy traveled to Moscow on Thursday to discuss and sign the protocol with his Russian counterpart.

“Russian tour operators will be free to resume flights between the two countries starting February 2018,” Aviation Minister Sherif Fathy told Egypt Today.

Last week, Sokolov announced that the Cairo International Airport has to satisfy all Russian requirements for aviation security, which will pave the way for Russian flights to resume their activities in Egypt.

Flights between the two countries were halted in 2015 after a Russian passenger jet crashed in Sinai; following which, 224 people were reported dead.

Shortly after the crash, the Sinai faction of ISIS claimed responsibility for the incident, which occurred in the vicinity of the Sinai insurgency led by ISIS affiliates following the ousting of Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi.

Egypt has exerted strenuous efforts and adopted tighter security measures in airports since the terror attack to keep pace with international aviation security standards.