Russian tour operators already lost $10 million since Egypt flight suspension

Russian tour operators have already lost $10 million since Egypt flights were suspended on Friday, November 6, the Association of Russian Tour Operators vice president Dmitry Gorin told Russian News Service radio station on Monday. "Tour operators are in a very difficult situation now. Apart from paying for flights from Egypt, we do not send new tourists [to Egypt] and additionally pay for new flights to Turkey, Cyprus and other countries. Preliminary losses over the last days have already made $10 million," Gorin said. He added that "56 flights return daily to 26 Russian cities, and luggage is delivered to Vnukovo [international airport] by 2-3 flights daily." Tourists from Egypt collect their luggage every 3-4 hours, he noted. On November 6 Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed with the recommendations of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee and ordered to suspend Egypt flights. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained that the measure will be in force not until the end of the investigation of Kogalymavia Flight 9268 crash over Sinai on October 31 but rather until appropriate security measures are ensured. Putin also ordered to assist Russian citizens in returning from Egypt. Russian Kogalymavia’s A321 plane en route from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg crashed on October 31 around 30 minutes after takeoff in North Sinai, 100 kilometers to the south of Al-Arish. Flight 9268 carried 217 passengers and seven crewmembers. Egyptian authorities said no one survived in the crash. Most passengers were Russian nationals..