Russian tourists stuck in Egypt due to sanctions flew to Moscow

Russian tourists stuck in Sharm el-Sheikh due to EU restrictions against Southwind Airlines were able to fly to Moscow, the press service of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOP) told RIA Novosti. The flight was delayed for 11 hours and 14 minutes. According to Flightradar, the plane was flying to Russia via Turkey, Georgia and Kazakhstan.

Air Cairo flight SM903 was scheduled to depart at 17:30 Moscow time on March 29. During the delay, tour operators Coral Travel and PEGAS Touristik took passengers to hotels. According to an ATOP source, the flight was delayed because the European Union could recognize Air Cairo as affiliated with the Turkish Southwind. RIA Novosti clarified that, under an agreement with Air Cairo, the flight is operated by Southwind Airlines.

March 29 edition of Turizmguncel reportedthat the European Union has imposed a ban on flights in the countries of the Southwind Airlines association, citing sanctions regulation 833/2014 of July 31, 2014, imposing restrictive measures in connection with Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Shortly before this, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom imposed a ban on the airline’s flights. The agency reported that the main share of ownership of Southwind Airlines belongs not to Turkish, but to Russian structures. Bild reported about the airline’s connection with Russia in December 2023. At the same time, a company representative stated that there were no Russians in the management of Southwind, and all aircraft were registered in Turkey.

Lusine Balasyan