UK Amb. expects 0.5M UK visitors to Egypt after Sharm Al-Sheikh ban lifted

CAIRO – 27 October 2019: British Ambassador to Egypt Geoffrey Adams expected nearly half a million British citizens to visit Egypt within a year, days after the ban on UK flights to South Sinai's Sharm al-Sheikh was lifted.

In an interview with Egyptian TV program Al-Hekaya, Adams expressed his delight at his country's decision to lift the ban on flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, given the significance of tourism to Egypt, expecting UK visitors to come to Egypt to enjoy a happy and problem-free vacation.

Adams also offered promoting tourism to Sharm el-Sheikh, along with the Egyptian government.

Adams said that the intensive cooperation between the British and Egyptian authorities contributed significantly to lifting the flight ban to Sharm el-Sheikh airport.

The UK government announced Tuesday it lifted flight restrictions to Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh, and no longer advises airlines against flying to the Red Sea resort's airport.

According to the UK government's statement, improvements in security procedures at the airport, and close co-operation between the UK and Egypt on aviation security, mean commercial airlines can now be allowed to operate routes to and from the airport.

This is the first step in the resumption of flights to Sharm El-Sheikh, which is a popular destination for UK holidaymakers. This decision supports air carriers to provide more choice to travellers hoping to visit the country.

UK flights to the South Sinai famous resort has been suspended since December 2015, after a Russian passenger plane was downed in a terrorist attack, killing all 224 people on board. Since then, both sides negotiated the resumption of flights, especially as Egypt heightened security measures and implemented all procedures demanded by the Russian side.

“The UK has been clear that flights to Sharm El-Sheikh should resume when the security situation allows. I am pleased that today we can announce the lifting of the current restrictions. We will continue to work closely with our partners in Egypt and airlines that plan to resume flights in the future,” said Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Dr Andrew Murrison.