New flights from Exeter to Egypt for travellers seeking winter sun

Winter sun seekers will soon be able to fly from Exeter to Africa if they want to escape miserable UK weather.

Tour operator TUI’s winter programme will see 5,000 seats available to book on flights to Hurghada on Egypt’s Red Sea coast.

The package holiday firm says customers will be able to take advantage of the deal in order to stay at their flagship resorts at the TUI Sensimar Makadi Gardens in Hurghada.

TUI UK’s director of aviation planning Karen Switzer said: “Adding more choice and flexibility for the winter 2019 season demonstrates our commitment to Exeter airport and the local area.

“We continue to focus on expanding access to our amazing range of holidays through an extended flying programming concentrated on the core destinations that we know our customers want to visit.”

Exeter Airport’s managing director Matt Roach said: “With TUI now offering holidays on the Red Sea coast for next winter this is wonderful news for those looking for warmth in the colder months and enjoy the convenience of departing from their local airport.”

Holidays to Egypt are taking off again following a sevenyear slump that begin in 2011 with the country’s revolution and the political unrest that followed.

In 2015, a Russian aircraft flying from an Egyptian airport was also hit by a bomb attack, killing the 200 tourists on board.

The UK Foreign Office’s latest advice to travellers says there is a heightened risk of terrorism against aviation flying to and from Egypt – but the main airport they identify as at risk is Sharm el Sheikh. There are currently no flights from the UK to Sharm el Sheikh and the TUI flights from Exeter will go into and out of Hurghada where there are no warnings about safety in force.

Earlier this year the tour operator said it had a seen a return to Egypt as an important destination. TUI Group CEO Fritz Joussen said: “Egypt is an important destination, we’ve seen the return of Egypt is quite significant.” As well as Hughada, UK flights from other British airports also continue into Cairo and Marsa Alam.

The FCO advises against all travel to North Sinai due to the significant increase in criminal activity and continued terrorist attacks on police and security forces that have resulted in deaths.

They also advise against all but essential travel to the Governorate of South Sinai, with the exception of Hadaba, Naama Bay, Sharks Bay and Nabq. They also advise against all but essential travel to the

the area west of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta regions, excluding the coastal areas between the Nile Delta and Marsa Matruh.