Sharm El-Sheikh receives 2 UK flights after four-year halt

CAIRO - 17 February 2020: Sharm El Sheikh International Airport on Sunday received two TUI flights coming from the UK, for the first time after four-year halt, carrying 184 passengers, while the second one came from Manchester Airport, carrying 190 passengers.

Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Manar ordered the airport staff to offer all services and facilities for the two planes and finalize the passengers' arrival procedures.

TUI officials and passengers expressed their happiness for the warm reception from the airport and South Sinai governorate.

The British tour operator is scheduled to operate three flights per week from Gatwick to the Red Sea resort city in the current winter season till March 25.

Flights between Britain and Sharm el-Sheikh were halted in November 2015, following the bombing of a Russian airliner soon after take-off from Sharm el-Sheikh airport, which killed all 224 people on board.

In January, President Abdel Fatah al Sisi and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the resumption of British flights to Sharm El Sheikh.

During meeting in London, the two leaders agreed on the need to increase trade between the UK and Egypt according to Downing Street spokesperson statement.