BA suspends Cairo flights as a security ‘precaution’
British Airways has suspended all flights to Cairo for seven days as a security precaution.
The airline announced yesterday evening that all flights into the Egyptian capital had been halted to allow for an assessment of security there.
“We constantly review our security arrangements at all our airports around the world, and have suspended flights to Cairo for seven days as a precaution to allow for further assessment,” a statement said.
“The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our priority, and we would never operate an
aircraft unless it was safe to do so.”
A spokesperson for the airline declined to provide further information about the suspensions, saying the company did not comment on security matters.
Last night, German airline Lufthansa joined BA in suspending flights to Cairo, also citing security concerns. A Lufthansa spokesperson told The Independent that two flights from Frankfurt and Munich to the Egyptian capital were cancelled yesterday, and said the airline’s service to and from the city would resume today.
Three Egyptian airport security sources told the Reuters news agency that British staff were checking security at Cairo airport on Wednesday and Thursday. It is understood British Airways made the Department for Transport aware of its decision ahead of the announcement.
A government spokesperson said: “We are aware that British Airways is notifying passengers that it has decided to suspend flights to Cairo temporarily.”
Cairo Airport website’s arrivals page listed flight BA155 from London, due to arrive in Terminal 2 at 11.15pm local time last night, as cancelled.
The British Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel by air to and from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, but has not issued similar warnings against air travel to and from Cairo.
“An estimated 415,000 British nationals visited Egypt in 2018,” according to the website’s advice page, which was last updated on Friday. “Most visits are trouble free.
“Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Egypt. Although most attacks occur in North Sinai, there is a risk of terrorist attacks across the country.”
Some affected passengers used social media to share pictures which appeared to show a letter handed out by British Airways with a similar message about security.