Direct flights from UK to Sharm to restart after security shake-up

BY MARK ELLIS

A BAN on direct flights from Britain to one of the top Red Sea resorts has been lifted four years after a devastating terror attack. The Department of Transport announced the move after Egypt beefed up security at Sharm el-Sheikh’s airport. Flights were stopped in November 2015 after 224 died when a Russian holiday jet was blown up. British investigators suspected someone put an explosive device inside or on top of luggage in the hold just before the plane took off. Some 900,000 Brits travelled to Sharm in 2015, but only 231,000 in 2016. Visitors had to take several flights or a ferry from Hurghada. The drop in numbers led to the collapse of the airline Monarch two years later and badly hit Thomas Cook, which went bust last month. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The safety of British nationals remains our top priority. This decision follows close co-operation between our experts and Egyptian counterparts, and improvements in security procedures.

“We will now work closely with airlines who wish to resume flights.”

Egyptian officials admitted after the airline bomb, which was linked to Islamic State, that the airport was not up to international security standards.

The end of the ban has come too late to reinstate flights for the peak winter season, but travel firms still warmly welcomed the move.

Tui said: “We will reintroduce Sharm el-Sheikh, taking into account demand.”

Budget airline easyJet added: “We will look at any opportunities for easyJet and easyJet Holidays as a result.”

Although The Foreign Office no longer advises against all but essential air travel to Sharm, it added: “There remains a heightened risk of terrorism against aviation in Egypt.”