How Africa News
Egypt’s national carrier, EgyptAir, is set to increase direct flights between the Russian capital, Moscow, and the Red Sea resort cities of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada to 28 flights per week starting 2023, up from 10 flight currently.
According top local Ahram Online news outlet, the move aims to bolster the arrival of Russian tourists to the resort cities.
The increase in flight numbers comes following a move by Jordan last week to close its airspace to Russian airlines due to sanctions meted on Moscow for its military operation in Ukraine.
In October, Russian airline Aeroflot resumed services from Moscow to the cities of Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh, seven months after it suspended direct flights to Egypt.
The Egyptian government has been keen to boost international tourist arrivals, and has embarked on a vigorous campaign to market the North African country as a favourable destination.
According to Russian tour bookings agency Travelata, Egypt was among the top five tourist destinations for Russian tourists in the summer of 2022.
The North African country came in fourth place with 4% of Russian tourist inflow after Russian resorts (55%), Turkey (33%) and Abkhazia (7%).
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Eissa told journalists on Friday that the number of Russian tourists to Egypt has doubled from June to October compared to earlier in the year.
The increase in flight numbers by EgypAir is expected to boost the sector even further.
