File photo: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (R) meeting with then UK FM Boris Johnson at the Presidential palace in the capital Cairo, February 26, 2017. (Photo by AFP)
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that he welcomes a recent decision by the UK to resume direct flights to Sharm El-Sheikh following a four-year hiatus.
El-Sisi told Johnson that the British decision “represents an effective start towards enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries to a hoped-for level, especially in terms of cooperation in the economic, investment, security, and tourism fields,” El-Sisi's office said.
The phone call also saw discussions on boosting bilateral ties between the two countries, with Johnson saying that his country relies on Egypt’s pivotal role in the stability of the Middle East and Africa.
Last month, the British government lifted restrictions on direct flights to Sharm El-Sheikh airport.
British flights to the popular winter sun destination were suspended in November 2015 over security concerns after a Russian passenger jet crashed in Sinai minutes after take-off from the airport, killing all 224 people on board.
Egypt has since boosted security procedures at its airports.
There were approximately 415,000 British visitors to Egypt in 2018.
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