Travel industry demands date for resumption of Sharm flights
More than 30 travel firms are seeking answers from the Government on when direct flights to Sharm el-Sheikh can be restarted.
Friday 4 November 2016 08:59, UK
The Government has signalled it is unwilling at this stage to lift its advice warning against UK flights to Sharm el-Sheikh - a year after they were suspended on safety grounds.
The measure was imposed in the wake of concerns about security at the Egyptian resort's airport following the of a Russian Metrojet airliner that killed 224 people.
Russia and the UK are now the only countries to have restrictions still in place according to Egyptian officials, who claim the UK is now "happy" following an overhaul of procedures at the airport.
Among the concerns were random screening of luggage and a scarcity of security personnel.
The apparent improvements have prompted the UK's travel industry to demand a date for direct flights to resume, as time runs out for them to be able to include breaks at the popular winter sun spot in their winter schedules.
More than 30 firms, including Thomson and First Choice owner TUI Group, Saga Holidays and Expedia, have added their names to the plea having lost out on crucial revenue from hundreds of thousands of annual visitors.
Egypt argues the situation is ridiculous as UK holidaymakers can still visit Sharm if they take multiple flights or a ferry from the fellow Red Sea resort of Hurghada.
But a UK Government spokesman said: "The security of British nationals is our top priority, and we took the decision to suspend flights from Sharm el-Sheikh in November last year to protect the travelling public.
"We keep aviation security under constant review."
Rasha Azaizi, director of the Egyptian State Tourist Office in London, said: "This long term ban on flights to Sharm el-Sheikh is now affecting many UK travel businesses as well as airlines and is causing deep consumer confusion."
He added: "We have been led to understand that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Transport are all now happy with the measures put in place following stringent security reviews.
"We truly feel it's time for the British government to make a decision before the crucial winter holiday season."
The flight ban has proved costly for Eygpt's tourism industry, as well as travel firms and airlines which have lost valuable capacity in Turkey also this year because of safety fears.
Sharm's tourist hotspots resembled a ghost town in the wake of the air crash though visitor numbers are now reported to be rising again.
UK airlines, including easyJet, and , have said they will decide on flights only when the Foreign Office changes its travel advice.