Resuming flights to Egyptian resorts “impossible” right now, Russian deputy PM says
From the department of moving the goalposts: Resuming flights between Russia and and resort cities in Egypt is impossible at the moment, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said, according to TASS. “I was approached by the Egyptian deputy foreign minister who asked when the resort cities will be open [for air traffic]. I said there is no such an opportunity now," Dvorkovich said. However, flights to Cairo are set to be restored this month.
Have flights with Cairo have been postponed to the end of the month? Cairo International Airport authorities received a memo on Friday from Russian national carrier Aeroflot requesting the postponement of a planned resumption of Russian flights to the airport for a week due to technical reasons, according to state-owned Al Ahram, which claims to have a copy of the memo. “Aeroflot is currently waiting on security approvals and necessary permits from Russian authorities to resume flights to Cairo,” the memo read. “Not all agreements between EgyptAir and Aeroflot have been signed,” said Russian Transportation Minister Maxim Sokolov on Thursday. These should be concluded in a matter days, he added, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti (Russian). He said that both airlines can begin selling tickets.
Last we had heard from official Russian statements was that the resumption of flights between Cairo and Moscow had been delayed to this Tuesday from mid-month. The resumption of flights between the cities will very likely take place on 20 February, Dvorkovich said on Thursday, according to RIA Novosti (Russian). The resumption of flights was discussed between Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at a meeting in Munich on Friday, the Foreign Minister said in a statement.