Russian aviation experts will need at least one more inspection of Egyptian airports - transport minister

MOSCOW, March 24. /TASS/. Russian aviation experts will need at least one more inspection of Egyptian airports, Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov said Friday. "Yes, certainly," he said when asked whether Russian aviation experts will need to visit Egyptian airports one more time. "(The visit will take place - TASS) as soon as we’re invited, at least one more time," the Minister said. In February, Russian government approved the protocol on aviation safety between Moscow and Cairo prepared by Russia’s Transport Ministry. Russian and Egyptian airlines will be able to perform flights between the two countries only provided that they complete an agreement on flight operating safety with a separate Russian legal entity, the document said. The legal entity set up by the Russian side, will accept the responsibility to exert control over aviation safety. The employees of this legal entity will be employed by Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, or Rosaviatsia. The legal entity will be able to exert control over the procedures of ensuring aviation safety regarding aircraft, passengers, cargoes, luggage, mail, flight catering and board supplies bound for the Russian Federation. Negotiations on resuming flights between Russia and Egypt have been underway since late 2015. Moscow suspended air service with Egypt in November 2015 after a terrorist attack on board an A321 jet from Russia’s air carrier Kogalymavia that was en route from Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt to Russia’s St. Petersburg. The passenger airliner crashed over the Sinai Peninsula early on October 31, all 224 people onboard were killed. Read more