In the middle of November, Al-Shorouq, an Egyptian daily, posted an editorial by Emad El Deen Hussein, where he questioned Russia’s demands to acknowledge the crash of Russian Kogalymavia flight 9268 in 2015 as an act of terror.
No one challenges Russia’s right to defend its interests, but it is important to consider Egypt’s interests as well. Russia demands too much in many areas, thus sending a negative signal to the Egyptians.
Emad El Deen Hussein, Al-Shourouq
Georgiy Borisenko, the Russian Ambassador to Egypt, responded a week later with an open letter posted at the official Facebook page of the Russian Embassy to Egypt, where he finally explained why direct flights from Russia to Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt are still suspended.
Georgiy Borisenko noted that Russia held the work done by the Egyptian side to improve security systems at airport terminals in high esteem. It was the joint efforts by the two countries that led to the resumption of air service between Moscow and Cairo in April 2018, he mentioned.
According to the Ambassador, the conditions are not there to resume flights, namely the necessary security arrangements, acknowledgement of the terrorist attack, and compensation for the families are yet to be provided.
Five years ago, 217 passengers and 7 crew members of a Russian Kogalymavia flight from Sharm El Sheikh to Saint-Petersburg were killed in a terror attack. Then, the largest number of Russian citizens were fatalities in the entire history of global aviation. This catastrophe was also the deadliest aircraft accident in the history of Egypt.
According to the Ambassador, the conditions are not there to resume flights, namely the necessary security arrangements, acknowledgement of the terrorist attack, and compensation for the families are yet to be provided.
The Ambassador mentioned that the number of Russian tourists in Egypt has significantly decreased since 2015. In 2019 only around 150,000 Russians spent holidays there, while 4 years ago this figure was more than 3,000,000.
The disruption of flights affected the Egyptian economy, where tourism contributes 12% to GDP. The Ambassador mentioned that the number of Russian tourists in Egypt has significantly decreased since 2015. In 2019 only around 150,000 Russians spent holidays there, while 4 years ago this figure was more than 3,000,000.