Putin lifted the ban on charter flights to Egypt

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree lifting the ban on passenger flights from RUSSIA to Egyptian cities (with the exception of regular flights to Cairo). The document is published on the official portal of legal information.

Putin's new decree also cancels a recommendation addressed to tour operators and travel agents to refrain from selling vouchers to Egyptian resorts to Russians.

What you need to fly to Egypt

To visit Egypt, tourists must provide a negative PCR test in English (mandatory with a QR code), made no earlier than 72 hours before the trip. Tour operator Coral Travel on its website draws attention to the fact that at the Cairo airport - the only one with which there is currently a direct connection from Russia - it is impossible to do a PCR test upon arrival: the result must be on hand upon departure from Russia. Those who arrive on their own through third countries at the airports of Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Marsa Alam and Taba can be tested upon arrival. The cost of the service is about $30. From June 23, 2021, a certificate of full vaccination with two doses of Sputnik V serves as a pass to visit Egypt. At least two weeks must have elapsed since the last vaccination.

In total, since the beginning of the pandemic in Egypt, according to Johns Hopkins University, almost 282.6 thousand cases of covid-19 have been confirmed . The daily record was set on June 19, 2020 - almost 1.8 thousand cases. By comparison, only 161 cases were reported on July 7. In connection with the CORONAVIRUS infection, more than 16.3 thousand deaths were recorded in total (the daily record was 95 in June 2020). More than 4.5 million people received the first dose of one of the vaccines allowed in Egypt, 953 thousand people were fully vaccinated, which is less than 1% of the country's total population.

As of April 2021, Russian airlines had about 70 permits to operate regular flights to Egypt. To resorts - about 15. It is not required to obtain admission to charters for flights, a source in a Russian airline that previously flew to Egyptian resorts told RBC.

“Now we are waiting for the decision of the interdepartmental commission of the Federal Air Transport Agency, where the number of flights will be approved. After we receive permission to operate flights, a flight program and tours will be formed. After the decision of the interdepartmental commission, we will need about a week to form tour packages, ”Anna Podgornaya, CEO of Pegas Touristik, told RBC.