Sokolov heads to Egypt, but talking of two countries' flights resumption premature - source
MOSCOW/CAIRO. Sept 25 (Interfax) - Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov's visit to Cairo is not expected to result in an immediate decision to resume flights with Egypt, a source familiar with the situation told Interfax on Sunday.
"The minister could visit Cairo on September 26-28. It is assumed that he, among other things, will assess how Egypt has been implementing a range of measures to upgrade transport security at its airports, and hold consultations with Egyptian colleagues over conditions of a resumption of flights between Russia and Egypt," the source said.
The two countries have not yet decided to resume flights, he said. "It is too soon to talk of making such a decision and also of any acceptable forms of this," he said.
Earlier a number of media reports, citing Egyptian news outlets, said that flights between Egypt and Russia could allegedly resume as early as October. According to one news outlet, the parties have already agreed on a gradual resumption of flights.
Flights between Russia and Egypt were suspended in November 2015. Russia made the decision after an aircraft operated by the Russian Kogalymavia airline company crashed over Sinai while en route from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg. All 217 passengers and seven crew on board were killed. Russia's Federal Security Service qualified the crash as a terrorist attack.
To resume flights, late last year the two countries' aviation authorities began cooperating in providing extra security at Egyptian airports. These were inspected by Russian specialists over the course of several trips. In late August, Sokolov said the Cairo airport, which is due to open a new terminal, will most likely be the first to welcome Russian tourists. Later he said that he would personally travel to Egypt at the end of September, whereupon a decision will be made on whether to resume flights.