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Russia’s Transport Ministry cannot confirm air security experts’ visit to Cairo on Sunday

Earlier, TASS reported that a source with Egyptian air industry informed that Russian air security experts would arrive in Cairo on December 9 to inspect the airports in the Egyptian resort towns

MOSCOW, December 8. /TASS/. Russia’s Transport Ministry cannot confirm as of yet that Russian air specialists can visit Cairo on December 9, Transport Minister Yevgeny Ditrikh told reporters on Saturday.

"I cannot confirm. I have no confirmation to this information yet," he said asked whether a Russian delegation was planning to visit Cairo on Sunday to inspect airport in Egyptian resorts.

Earlier, TASS reported that a source with Egyptian air industry informed that Russian air security experts would arrive in Cairo on December 9 to inspect the airports in the Egyptian resort towns of Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh.

Flight connection

All flights between Russia and Egypt were cancelled in November 2015 after a Russian A321 passenger jet owned by Russia’s Kogalymavia air carrier bound to St. Petersburg crashed on October 31, 2015 some 30 minutes after the takeoff from Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh.

In 2016-2017, the sides negotiated resumption of aviation service. A new terminal meeting all aviation security requirements was been constructed in Cairo airport. Before flights were resumed, Russian aviation experts examined the airport several times.

In January 2018, Putin signed a decree to resume regular flights between Russia and Egypt. The first flight from Moscow to Cairo took place on April 11.

Charter flights to resort towns, particularly Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada, are still suspended.