A ban on UK flights to the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is due to be lifted following an improvement in the security situation. The Department for Transport in the United Kingdom has now ended its ban on flights to the Sinai Peninsula after security improvements at Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH).
The Egyptian beach-side resort was a popular destination for British tourists in search of winter sun until all flights were banned in 2015 following the bombing of a Russian jetliner.
easyJet and TUI are ready to resume flights
When speaking about the lifting of the ban, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told ITV News: “We look forward to services to Sharm el-Sheikh resuming, and lifting the restriction is the first step in that process.
“The safety and security of British nationals remains our top priority and this decision follows close co-operation between our aviation security experts and their Egyptian counterparts, and improvements in security procedures at the airport.
“We will now work closely with airlines who wish to resume flights to and from the airport.”
This news will be good for Luton Airport based easyJet who has already told the Daily Express that they are aggressively pursuing opportunities to resume flights to the popular resort. A statement released by the airline reads,
“We are aware of the lifting of the restriction on UK airlines flying into Sharm el-Sheikh Airport and will look at any opportunities for easyJet and easyJet Holidays as a result.”
Travel firm TUI will also reap the rewards with customers ready to book winter holidays in the firm’s all-inclusive resorts. A TUI spokesperson told ITV News,
“Sharm el-Sheikh was always a popular holiday destination with our customers and we welcome the change in travel advice by the UK Government.
“We will reintroduce Sharm el-Sheikh, taking into account customer demand, and will now work closely with our hotel and airport partners so we can confirm more details in due course.”
Sharm el-Sheikh was very popular with UK holidaymakers
Before the flight ban was announced Hundreds of thousands of British holidaymakers flocked to Sharm el-Sheikh for the winter sunshine long sandy beaches and optimum diving conditions.
The flight ban came about following the terrorist bombing of a Russian Metrojet Airbus A321 in which all 224 passengers and crew died in October of 2015. Authorities later determined that the crash was the result of a bomb going off inside the aircraft.
Following the bombing, rescue flights were arranged to bring home 16,000 British holidaymakers.
The flight ban contributed to the demise of Monarch
The subsequent flight ban also contributed to the collapse of Monarch Airlines a British low-cost holiday destination airline that had bet big on Sharm el-Sheikh.
Following the flight ban being lifted ITV News is also reporting that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will talk about resuming flights when the two leaders meet next week.
Sharm el-Sheikh hotels and resorts will be eager to welcome back their British visitors and with both Tui and easyJet ready to get back into the market there could be some good deals to be had.
Would you risk holidaying in Sharm el-Sheikh or do you think that Egypt is still dangerous? Please let us know in the comments.
