From August 9: Russia resumes flights with the resorts of Egypt, as well as with Bahrain, Moldova and the Dominican Republic

From Monday, August 9, Russia resumes flights with the resorts of Egypt.

This was reported in the operational headquarters for the fight against coronavirus infection.

“From August 9, the number of flights to Egypt on the routes Moscow - Hurghada and Moscow - Sharm el-Sheikh will be increased with a frequency of five flights a week on each route.

A further decision to increase the number of flights on these routes will be made based on the results of the visit of the Russian delegation to Egypt to assess the epidemiological situation, ”the statement says.

In July, Rospotrebnadzor announced the sending of a Russian interagency delegation to Egypt "for a joint assessment of the epidemiological situation, preventive measures in tourist accommodation, the capabilities of laboratories and medical institutions."

The corresponding agreement was reached during negotiations with the participation of the chief sanitary doctor of the Russian Federation Anna Popova, the head of Rostourism Zarina Doguzova and the Egyptian delegation headed by the Minister of Antiquities and Tourism of Egypt Khaled al-Anani.

It was also proposed to create a Russian-Egyptian contact group for constant monitoring of the situation and exchange of information related to tourists from Russia.

At the same time, the Russian headquarters for the fight against coronavirus indicated that the decision on the possibility of resuming flights with the resorts of Egypt would be made following the visit of the Russian delegation.

Recall that in the fall of 2015, Russia completely stopped air traffic with Egypt.

The ban was introduced after the terrorist attack in October 2015 aboard the Airbus A321-231 of the Kogalymavia company, which operated a charter flight from Sharm El Sheikh to St. Petersburg.

An explosion occurred on board the aircraft, killing 224 people, including 25 children.

In January 2018, Vladimir Putin signed a decree to resume regular flights to Cairo, but not to Egyptian resorts.

At the same time, Russia has completely closed regular and charter international flights from March 27, 2020 in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.

The gradual resumption of international flights began on August 1, 2020, when flights to the UK, Turkey and Tanzania were opened.

At the beginning of September 2020, an order of the Russian government was published on the resumption of flights to Cairo.

Also on russian.rt.com "On a reciprocal basis": Russia resumed flights with Egypt, the UAE and the Maldives

At the same time, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi agreed on the full resumption of flights between the two countries on April 23, 2021.

In this regard, on July 8, the head of state canceled the decree of November 8, 2015 "On certain measures to ensure the national security of the Russian Federation and the protection of citizens of the Russian Federation from criminal and other illegal actions", which prohibited Russian airlines from flying to Egyptian resorts.

Commenting on the decision to resume flights between Russia and the resorts of Egypt, the executive director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) Maya Lomidze warned compatriots that while the prices for vacations in this country will be at a sufficiently high level. 

“It is not clear from the decision of the headquarters what flights are being discussed.

With a very high degree of probability, it can be argued that so far only about regular ones.

This is a very big step for the entire industry, but still not quite enough to talk about a rapid increase in tourist traffic.

The fact is that regular flights are more expensive than charters.

And so far only a very small number of flights have been allowed, which means that prices will at least be high, ”TASS quotes her.

Resumption of flights with three more states

In addition to Egypt, the COVID-19 operational headquarters, taking into account the epidemiological situation, decided that regular flights with Bahrain, the Dominican Republic and Moldova will be resumed on a reciprocal basis from August 9.

Bahrain on the route Moscow - Manama with a frequency of two flights a week;

Dominican Republic on the routes Moscow - Punta Cana, Moscow - La Romana, Moscow - Puerto Plata with a total frequency of three flights per week;

Moldova on the route Moscow - Chisinau with a frequency of three flights a week, ”the message says.

In addition, from that day on, the number of regular flights on the Moscow - Damascus route will be increased (from one to three per week).

The operational headquarters also made a recommendation to the citizens of the Russian Federation, urging them to get vaccinated before flying to foreign countries to protect them from COVID-19.