The airline British Airways announced, Saturday, July 20, the suspension of its flights to Cairo during seven days for security reasons, the British authorities evoking an "increased risk of terrorism against aviation".

On Saturday evening, German airline Lufthansa also announced that it had suspended flights to Cairo from Munich and Frankfurt, but only for Saturday, without giving any reason. "It will resume normal tomorrow" Sunday, according to a spokesman.

On the British side, "we are constantly reviewing our security arrangements at all our airports around the world, and we have suspended flights to Cairo for seven days as a precaution to allow a more in-depth assessment," the statement said. British company in a statement, without specifying the nature of the difficulties encountered.

The Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation announced in a statement to be in "coordination" with the British Embassy and the British Airways representative in Cairo.

The ministry also said it had "increased the passenger capacity of EgyptAir flights to London" and planned an "additional flight from tomorrow to London Heathrow Airport".

"Terrorists are highly likely to try to carry out attacks in Egypt"

Some passengers affected by these suspensions posted photos on the social networks showing a letter, which appeared to have been written by British Airways, with a similar message.

On its travel advisor's page to Egypt, the UK's Foreign Ministry reports an "increased risk of terrorism against aviation". "Additional security measures are in place for flights from Egypt to the UK," the Foreign Office (FCO) adds.

The United Kingdom advises against all flights, except essential journeys, to or from the seaside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula.

"Terrorists are highly likely to try to carry out attacks in Egypt, although most attacks occur in northern Sinai, there is a risk of terrorist attacks throughout the country," says the FCO.

"The terrorists in Egypt probably have the intention and the ability to target aviation," he adds. "The biggest threat is in the Sinai peninsula where Daesh (acronym for the Islamic State Jihadist organization) operates with greater freedom, but terrorists are active in mainland Egypt, including Cairo."

About 415,000 British nationals traveled to Egypt in 2018, according to the FCO.

With AFP