Egyptair resumes Luxor flights from Heathrow
Egyptair has resumed direct weekly flights between Heathrow and Luxor after suspending the service in May due to lack of demand.
The move is designed to help travellers interested in ancient Egypt or Nile cruises as well as boost tourism to the beleaguered region.
Rasha Azaizi, UK Director, Egyptian Tourism Authority, said she was delighted by the new resumption services. “We look forward to welcoming British travellers on this service, which will connect them directly them to some of the world’s greatest cultural landmarks, including the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the treasures of Tut-Ankh-Amoun and the Luxor and Karnak Temples,” she said.
“Luxor has an array of beautiful hotels such as the historic Old Winter Palace and is perfectly placed for dual centre holidays. Visitors can combine their stay in Luxor with a luxury Nile cruise up to the hustle and bustle of Cairo, or spend time relaxing at the fantastic beach resorts at Hurghada and the world famous Red Sea Riviera.”
Egyptair jet
Travel warnings
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently advising against all but essential travel to some parts of Egypt, but this does not include the tourist areas along the Nile river, including Luxor, Qina, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings, and the Red Sea resorts of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada.
Direct flights to Sharm el Sheikh airport from the UK were suspended last November following a plane crash believed to have been caused by a bomb placed on board the plane while at the airport.
In May 2016 German authorities lifted the ban on flights to Sharm El Sheikh and German tour operators have announced plans to fly back in this winter. Sharm El Sheikh airport received the first direct flight from Frankfurt in Germany on Sunday 2 October after a year of suspension. In September 2016 Turkish Airlines recommenced flights from Istanbul Atatrk airport to Sharm El Sheikh airport after an 11-month suspension, and 11 fights from Italy to Sharm El Sheikh are scheduled to take place in October.
The moves have prompted calls from British politicians for the flight ban to Sharm El Sheikh to be lifted.