easyJet Answers Egyptian Flight Rumours
Divers are keen to see flights resume to Sharm El-Sheikh in May 2016, therefore a story in 'Daily News Egypt' earlier this week was greeted in a positive manner. However the story was not as accurate as it could be.
'Egypt’s Only Daily Independent Newspaper In English' ran a story on Wednesday 24th February 2016 stating that easyJet would be resuming flights to Egypt in May.
An official at the Ministry of Tourism said British EasyJet Airways will resume its flights from England to Sharm El-Sheikh in May 2016.
We contacted easyJet today to confirm the situation. easyJet issued this statement.
“Following the change to the Government’s advice on travel to and from Sharm El-Sheikh, easyJet suspended all flying between the UK and Sharm after Wednesday 4 November and won’t resume flights until after the Government’s advice changes. easyJet has already suspended flights on this route up until Friday 27 May 2016.
Waiting on new travel advice
The UK travel industry is currently waiting on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to issue new advice on travel to and from Sharm el Sheikh.
At present the FCO has stated they "advise against all but essential travel to North Sinai, with the exception of the area within the Sharm el Sheikh perimeter barrier, which includes the airport and the areas of Sharm el Maya, Hadaba, Naama Bay, Sharks Bay and Nabq; however, we advise against all but essential travel by air to or from Sharm el Sheikh."
easyJet has therefore taken the decision to cancel flights to Sharm for the rest of this summer from Manchester, Luton and Gatwick. Nevertheless easyJet has also acknowledged that they expect there to be some demand from people across the UK wanting to fly to Sharm this summer.
"We have no confirmation from the UK Government that we will be able to resume flights yet. We are planning to operate our twice weekly flights scheduled to Sharm from London Stansted airport. Assuming the Government’s travel advice does change, these flights are scheduled to operate from 29 May 2016."
“Customers due to travel on cancelled flights can switch the full value of their booking to any other destination on the easyJet network, receive a full refund or opt for a transfer onto a Stansted flight. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused by the reduced service.
“Once the Government’s travel advice does change easyJet expects to resume services from Manchester, Luton and Gatwick from the beginning of the winter season in October 2016.”