Russian Delegation Hails Highly Security Measures in Egypt's Airports

On Wednesday, a Russian security delegation praised the beefed-up security measures taken in Egypt’s two major international airports of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada,  according to a source at the Aviation Ministry.

The 6-day inspection tour was carried out by the delegation to ensure they are adhering to safety and security standards and precautionary measures against the coronavirus.

The 17 Russian inspectors also praised the Egyptian security systems adopted at the two Red Sea airports, including the procedures of passenger security from the entrance to the airport building and before boarding, the system of luggage inspection, filling the aircraft with fuel and food before takeoff, as well as tracking the process of entry and exit of workers and the functionality of security cameras.

In January 2020, the experts conducted a regular inspection of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, and then in Cairo expressed hope that it will be the final before the preparation of the final report on the safety of Egyptian airports and the possible opening of charter flights.

Air traffic between Russia and Egypt was completely interrupted in November 2015 after the crash of a plane of the Russian company "Kogalymavia" flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg in Sinai. There were 217 passengers and seven crew members on board, all of whom died. The FSB qualified the incident as a terrorist attack.

In January 2018, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree resuming regular flights to Cairo. The first flight from Moscow took place in April of the same year. Charter flights to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh are still closed. In recent years, the Egyptian side has improved the system of screening, control and inspection of passengers and luggage, as well as significantly upgraded the airport infrastructure.