Tourists coming from London's Gatwick airport arriving at Sharm El-Sheikh airport on Saturday (Photo: Egypt s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
The airplane was received at the airport by the customary water salute, marking the first direct flight between the two cities following the decision of the British government to lift Egypt from its "red list" of countries in mid-September.
The decision moved Egypt to the "amber list," a medium-risk category per the UK's anti-coronavirus safety measures, which requires simpler rules for entering the European country.
According to sources in Egyptian Airports Company that spoke with Ahram Gate, direct flights between the UK and Red Sea resorts of Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh are expected to increase gradually till they reach 20 flights a week.
The first flight on Easy Jet from London Gatwick Airport to Sharm El-Sheikh had on board 150 passengers who were received with flowers and flyers for Egypt’s different tourist destinations as well as the precautionary measures applied in hotels and archaeological sites.
The UK is one of the largest tourist markets for Egypt. From 2010 to 2015, It was ranked second to fourth place among the ten largest exporters of tourists to Egypt.
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