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UK departure flights to Sharm el-Sheikh halted for two more weeks UK departure flights to Sharm el-Sheikh halted for two more weeks
(35 minutes later)
British travel firms and airlines have cancelled flight departures to Sharm el-Sheikh for at least two more weeks, stoking Egyptian fears for the vital tourist industry following the Russian airliner crash. British travel firms and airlines have cancelled flight departures to Sharm el-Sheikh for at least two more weeks, stoking Egyptian fears for its vital tourist industry following the Russian airliner crash.
No planes will leave Britain for Sharm until at least 25 November, as the UK government continues to review security amid mounting certainty that a bomb brought down Metrojet flight 23 minutes after take-off from Sharm airport on 31 October, killing all 224 people on board. No planes will leave Britain for Sharm until at least 25 November, as the UK government continues to review security amid mounting certainty that a bomb brought down the Metrojet flight 23 minutes after take-off from Sharm airport on 31 October, killing all 224 people on board.
Related: Russian plane crash: Calls for new era of airport security after Sinai terror Russia and other European countries have now followed the UK lead, advising against travel to Sharm el-Sheikh and bringing holidaymakers home, increasing the likelihood of Egypt’s most popular holiday resort remaining empty during peak season in December.
Russia and other European countries have now followed the UK lead, advising against travel to Sharm el-Sheikh and bringing holidaymakers home, increasing the the likelihood of Egypt’s most popular holiday resort empty during peak season in December. Thousands of Russians were at the head of the exodus on Monday. Moscow said about 25,000 of its tourists had now returned, on more than 100 flights.
Thousands of Russians were at the head of the exodus on Monday. Moscow said that about 25,000 of its tourists had now returned, on more than 100 flights. Some travel firms and restaurant owners in Sharm are already considering closing down as tourists drain away from the resort, with bargain prices powerless to lure visitors while incoming flights are suspended. Tourism accounts for about 12% of Egypt’s GDP, with one in nine Egyptians working in the industry, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Some travel firms and restaurant owners in Sharm were already considering closing down as tourists drained away from the resort, with bargain prices powerless to lure visitors while incoming flights are suspended. Tourism accounts for about 12% of Egypt’s GDP comes from tourism, with one in nine Egyptians working in the industry, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. The UK foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said on Sunday he expected flights to be restored before Christmas. But according to one holiday firm, even bookings for next year have all but evaporated.
While the UK foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said on Sunday he expected flights to be restored before Christmas, even bookings for next year have all but evaporated, according to one holiday firm. A spokesperson for Monarch said that even with cancellation guarantees it had had just three or four bookings for 2016 since the crash, when normally holiday sales would be in three figures: “It’s way, way lower. You can’t compare it.”
A spokesperson for Monarch said that even with cancellation guarantees it had had just “three or four” bookings for 2016 since the crash, when normally holiday sales would be in three figures: “It’s way, way lower. You can’t compare it.” Between 1,000 and 2,000 more Britons were expected to leave Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday. More than 2,000 easyJet customers remain in Egypt after cancellations, but tour operators from Thomas Cook and Thomson reported that most of their remaining customers would return as scheduled when their holidays are concluded.
Between 1,000-2,000 more Britons were expected to leave Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday. More than 2,000 easyJet customers remain in Egypt after cancellations, but tour operators from Thomas Cook and Thomson reported most of their remaining customers are to return as scheduled when their holidays are concluded.
The Department for Transport said 5,300 Britons had returned home by Sunday night, after the travel restrictions were put in place last week. A spokesman said: “We are continuing to work closely with the Egyptian authorities and air carriers.” The DfT said passengers in Egypt should contact their airline or tour operator to confirm their flight before travelling to Sharm el-Sheikh airport.The Department for Transport said 5,300 Britons had returned home by Sunday night, after the travel restrictions were put in place last week. A spokesman said: “We are continuing to work closely with the Egyptian authorities and air carriers.” The DfT said passengers in Egypt should contact their airline or tour operator to confirm their flight before travelling to Sharm el-Sheikh airport.
Passengers will continue to travel without luggage as staff at the airport are investigated. The DfT confirmed that some of the baggage left in Sharm had now been returned on cargo planes. The spokesman added: “Our priority is bringing home the British nationals and guaranteeing their safety and security.”Passengers will continue to travel without luggage as staff at the airport are investigated. The DfT confirmed that some of the baggage left in Sharm had now been returned on cargo planes. The spokesman added: “Our priority is bringing home the British nationals and guaranteeing their safety and security.”
Related: Fears for Sharm el-Sheikh's future as tourists vent frustrationRelated: Fears for Sharm el-Sheikh's future as tourists vent frustration
DfT officials were still at Sharm el-Sheikh reviewing the airport’s security procedures on Monday. The spokesman said there had been no formal review of air security beyond Sharm implemented following the disaster, but added: “Aviation security is something we keep under constant review.”DfT officials were still at Sharm el-Sheikh reviewing the airport’s security procedures on Monday. The spokesman said there had been no formal review of air security beyond Sharm implemented following the disaster, but added: “Aviation security is something we keep under constant review.”
According to Russian reports, Egyptian hotel workers are now also being questioned. Although the Egyptian lead investigator into the crash, Ayman al-Muqaddam, has stressed there were several possibilities for flight 9268 breaking up in midair over the Sinai peninsula, the security measures imposed on airlines by their governments suggests that the main theory was someone having smuggled an explosive device into the luggage hold. According to Russian reports, Egyptian hotel workers are now also being questioned. Although the Egyptian lead investigator into the crash, Ayman al-Muqaddam, has stressed there were several possibilities for flight 9268 breaking up in midair over the Sinai peninsula, the security measures imposed on airlines by their governments suggest that the main theory is someone having smuggled an explosive device into the luggage hold.
While Egyptian officials have rejected claims that terrorism brought down the plane, the police and security presence has been stepped up across the resort, from the airport to the hotels and checkpoints. Plainclothes officers standing guard across the coastal resort outnumbered tourists near some beaches. Only checked-in guests were being allowed into some hotel premises.While Egyptian officials have rejected claims that terrorism brought down the plane, the police and security presence has been stepped up across the resort, from the airport to the hotels and checkpoints. Plainclothes officers standing guard across the coastal resort outnumbered tourists near some beaches. Only checked-in guests were being allowed into some hotel premises.
Police killed a leading Islamic State militant in the capital, Cairo, on Monday. Ashraf Ali Ali Hassanein al-Gharabli was shot dead in an exchange of fire after police tried to arrest him, the interior ministry said. There were no indications Gharabli, a top Isis operative, may have been involved in a possible bombing of the Russian airliner, although affiliates in the Sinai claimed responsibility. Police killed a leading Islamic State militant in the capital, Cairo, on Monday. Ashraf Ali Ali Hassanein al-Gharabli was shot dead in an exchange of fire after police tried to arrest him, the interior ministry said. There were no indications that Gharabli, a top Isis operative, may have been involved in a possible bombing of the Russian airliner, although affiliates in the Sinai claimed responsibility.
About 80,000 Russians and 20,000 Britons, the two biggest nationalities among visitors to Egypt, were thought to be in Sharm el-Sheikh when the plane crashed. Tourism in the Red Sea resort had been picking up again after years of political turmoil.About 80,000 Russians and 20,000 Britons, the two biggest nationalities among visitors to Egypt, were thought to be in Sharm el-Sheikh when the plane crashed. Tourism in the Red Sea resort had been picking up again after years of political turmoil.
But with the peak season for both travel to Egypt, and bookings for 2016 holidays approaching, an extended delay in restoring flights could further blight Egypt’s industry. In 2014, 250,000 British holidaymakers visited Egypt, for the pyramids, Nile cruises and Red Sea resorts. But with the peak season for both travel to Egypt and bookings for 2016 holidays approaching, an extended delay in restoring flights could further blight Egypt’s industry. In 2014, 250,000 British holidaymakers visited Egypt, for the pyramids, Nile cruises and Red Sea resorts.
The British travel industry body ABTA said: “There’s an immediate impact in the short term because people are unable to travel, but in the longer term we don’t know what impact it’s going to have.” The British travel industry body Abta said: “There’s an immediate impact in the short term because people are unable to travel, but in the longer term we don’t know what impact it’s going to have.”
Tour operator Thomas Cook said it was taking plans “ a step at a time” and it was too early to tell what impact the flight suspension would have on bookings. Tour operator Thomas Cook said it was taking plans “a step at a time” and it was too early to tell what impact the flight suspension would have on bookings.
But pessimism was rife in the Red Sea resort. Holidays are already being discounted, but an official at Sharm Travel Solutions, a UK-owned company, said: “They may sell these holidays at half price but with flights suspended will anyone buy them?” But pessimism was rife in the Red Sea resort. Holidays are already being discounted, but an official at Sharm Travel Solutions, a UK-owned company, said: “They may sell these holidays at half-price but with flights suspended, will anyone buy them?”
Chairs were stacked on tables at the cafe owned by Ahmed Rabie in Naama Bay in the heart of the resort. He said: “I have been working in Sharm for three years but this is the first time I have ever seen it so empty. Right now, all these cafes and restaurants would be full.” Chairs were stacked on tables at the cafe owned by Ahmed Rabie in Naama Bay, in the heart of the resort. He said: “I have been working in Sharm for three years but this is the first time I have ever seen it so empty. Right now, all these cafes and restaurants would be full.”
He told Reuters many small business owners had already shut up shop after western governments announced that the Airbus 321 was likely brought down by a bomb and suspended flights, adding: “We are waiting for two or three days to see what happens but if it keeps on like this we will shut down and leave.” He told Reuters many small business owners had already shut up shop. “We are waiting for two or three days to see what happens but if it keeps on like this we will shut down and leave.”
The number of tourists in to Egypt was already down to under 10 million in 2014, a third fewer than in 2010.The number of tourists in to Egypt was already down to under 10 million in 2014, a third fewer than in 2010.
Mohamed Odei, a taxi driver, said: “No one used to come here except the fat cats, people with thick wallets. Now if a tourist wants a budget holiday, they come here. And even that is coming to an end.”Mohamed Odei, a taxi driver, said: “No one used to come here except the fat cats, people with thick wallets. Now if a tourist wants a budget holiday, they come here. And even that is coming to an end.”