British gov't urged to resume flights to Sharm El-Sheikh

The British government has been urged by representatives of travel agencies to resume flights to the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El Sheikh.

The delegates warned of negative effects of delaying such a decision on their companies and the tourism industry.

They were meeting a joint panel of the UK parliament where a parliamentary group on Egypt offered views on the conditions in the Arab country.

Representatives for the Egyptian travel agencies expressed disappointment over the failure of the UK cabinet to resume flights to Sharm El Sheikh, calling for a swift decision not to lose the winter season. They pointed out to the decisions taken by Germany and other European countries to lift similar travel bans.

The representatives termed as incomprehensible the stance of the British government in this regard given that flights to France, Belgium and Turkey are normal despite recent terrorist attacks in these countries.

MP Gerald Howarth, who chairs the UK parliament's group on friendship with Egypt, told the meeting that during his recent visit to Egypt he met with officials of the ministry of transport who told him that all standards to resume British flights have been met.

He said he had demanded in a letter sent to Prime Minister Theresa May a swift decision to resume flights to the Egyptian resort. He added that she replied to him that a number of factors should be accomplished before such a decision, without identifying those factors. But she asserted that London was still working with the Egyptian government to lift the ban as soon as possible.

Source: MENA