SHARM EL SHEIKH FLIGHTS STILL GROUNDED

News came out today at the Airport Operators Association Conference in London that the decision to return to the popular holiday destination of Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt is still on hold.

Flights to the Red Sea resort were curtailed five days after a Russian passenger liner crashed into the Sinai Desert after it is thought a bomb was smuggled aboard the plane by a terrorist working at the airport.

Sharm el Sheikh airport Egypt (© www.thetraveltrunk.net)

The flights were halted over a year ago on 31st October 2015. It was Russia’s worst aviation disaster. In all 224 passengers and crew died in the incident. The British Government banned all UK airlines from flying to and from Sharm.The Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Graying MP, announced news about yet further delays for tourists in answer to a question posed by The Travel Trunk.

He said: “This is something we keep constantly under review. Nether we or the Russians have yet decided to go back into Sharm. We will continue to work closely with the Egyptians we are working closely with the Egyptians. We’ll take decisions as soon as we are confident that we can take that decision safely.

Sharm el Sheikh camel drivers . (© www.thetraveltrunk.net)

Although airlines from other European countries like Germany, Belgium and Turkey are once again flying to the resort. The Egyptians have spent over £20m in improved security and training.

It is possible to book holidays to Sharm with Thomson for February 2017 dates but it is likely that those booking could be subject to change. Thomas Cook has holidays starting in May but those also could be withdrawn.

British charter airline Monarch, were hoping to be flying into the resort for the Christmas and New Year holiday period but those flights have now also been cancelled.

Sharm el Sheikh airport Egypt (© www.thetraveltrunk.net)

British Airways had pondered returning and they too have pulled out for the time being.

Thousands of Egyptians hotel workers have been laid off since then.

The hardship for their families and lack of work for those staff some tourism leaders believe this could be driving them to seek more radical and extremist paths. Which is exactly what the terrorists were trying to do in the first place.

Tourism bosses in Egypt have appealed to Britain to reinstate the flights and say it’s been catastrophic for the resort and its workers.

http://www.egypt.travel/