Bahrain 'will continue to fly to Egypt'

Bahrain will fly uninterrupted to Egypt despite prevailing security concerns ignited by the recent crash of a Russian passenger airliner while flying over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula,killing all 224 people on board.

Following the incident on October 31, UAE and major European carriers announced that they would avoid flying in the airspace until more information was available about the crash.

Dubai’s budget carrier flydubai and Sharjah-based airline AirArabia also rerouted flights around the area.

Russia too has suspended all its flights to Egypt citing security fears and declared that the suspension will stand until security is improved at Egypt's airports. 

Air France, Lufthansa and British Airways also announced that they would stop flying over the area as a precaution while the cause of the Russian crash was investigated.

However Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways are companies that assured that they would continue to operate flights over the area.

Meanwhile the US and UK appears to be increasingly confident that a terrorist bomb brought down the passenger jet that broke apart while in air.

A Gulf Air representative confirmed that the airlines will continue to fly to Egypt.

"At this point of time, there is no change in the flight plans,” she told NOB.

“As per the airline's assessment it is safe to fly to Egypt."

Travel agents in Bahrain also said that flights from here to Egypt have not been affected. They also noted that the number of travelers to Egypt has not reduced either.

"There are a few airlines that have flights to Egypt and there has been no change in the schedules,” a Gulf Coast Travel Agency staff said.

“We have heard that Russian airlines have suspended flights but that does not affect the Middle East in any way.”

"We have not seen any reduction in the number of travelers to Egypt nor have any airlines (from Bahrain) stopped their services to the country," said another travel agent to NOB.

According to agents, the airfare to Egypt too remains unchanged, ranging from BHD130 to 160 for a two way ticket. 

Echoing a similar view, travel Agent Ibrahim Muhanna said that flights to Egypt remain unaffected.

"Flights to Egypt will continue and we have not been affected,” he told NOB. “Flights in Russia have been suspended but after a few days they will also resume.”

The Russian plane crashed 23 minutes after taking off from the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Shaikh.

The Kogalymavia flight with 214 Russian and three Ukrainian passengers and seven crew members was bound for Saint Petersburg.

Caption : Wreckage at the site where a Russian aircraft crashed in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula (photo : Corbis)