Aeroflot reportedly moving into new offices in Cairo

Russian national carrier Aeroflot is preparing offices at the renovated Terminal 2 of Cairo International Airport, Russia’s Prime news agency reported citing Egyptian news portal Moheet. The news increases speculation that flights between Russia and Egypt may soon resume, but the move may be premature. Russian officials have not yet announced a date when flights will be restored between the two countries, saying that the decision will depend on the security measures Egypt can provide to Russian airlines and passengers.

According to Prime, Aeroflot has placed its logos on the new offices and has begun to move documentation and equipment from its former offices in Terminal 1. Aeroflot's spokesman declined to comment.

Russian security services oppose restoration of flights to Egypt

Terminal 2, which has been undergoing renovations this year, is expected to open in the coming weeks, and several airlines have begun moving into the terminal. In late August, Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said that the availability of a new terminal at Cairo airport that could serve Russian tourists was one of the conditions for the restarting of flights from Russia. Sokolov added, however, that his comments were "theoretical” and that the decision to restart flights would depend on the assessment of the terminal’s security measures, which must be made by a special research group.

In early September, a Russian delegation carried out a security review at the Cairo airport, which included an investigation of the second terminal. Russian experts are expected to visit Cairo again after the terminal begins operations to check how the reinforced security measures taken by Egypt are being put into practice.

Aeroflot carried out regular flights from Terminal 1 of Cairo International Airport until a Russian Kogalymavia plane crashed over the Sinai Peninsula in late October 2015. The plane had taken off from the airport in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Fisrt published in Russian by Kommersant

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