Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told TASS that Egypt hopes Russia takes a prompt decision to resume flights to Egyptian resorts ahead of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to Cairo, which is scheduled for Monday 12 April. Russia suspended flights to Egypt in 2015 over a tragic Russian plane crash over Sinai, which killed all 224 people on board. Russia blames the incident on a bomb explosion. Although Russia has resumed flights to Cairo as per a Russian presidential decree in 2018, charter flights to Egyptian resorts such as Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada are still banned. Shoukry affirmed to TASS that Egypt has done the country's "utmost to reach the top security level" at Egyptian airports and resorts. The Egyptian FM also affirmed that the country has taken all precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in resort cities. Shoukry said millions of visitors from a variety of countries have visited Egypt since the pandemic and returned home without being infected by the novel virus. Egypt, since the plane crash, has worked on upgrading and boosting safety systems at all airports countrywide, including the system of screening, control, and check-in of passengers and baggage. Egypt has allowed multiple inspection visits from Russia to certify its commitment to safety measures and security arrangements. Russian tourists are one of the main groups that visit Egypt the most for its touristic attractions. In 2014, 3 million Russians visited the country, and in 2015, 2.4 million Russians visited Egypt before Moscow suspended all commercial passenger flights to the country over the incident.
