LONDON (Alliance News) - British airlines have estimated that after Tuesday next week there will be fewer than 200 of their passengers remaining in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Egyptian resort, following the crash of a Russian passenger plane that killed the 224 people.
Flights from the UK to Sharm el-Sheikh were suspended on Wednesday last week as the UK government sought to work with British airlines to ensure safe passage of holiday makers after the flight to St Petersburg, Russia from the Egyptian resort crashed on October 31.
An explosive device is thought to have been the cause of the crash.
Tourists who decide to remain in Sharm el-Sheikh after Tuesday next week must make their own alternative travel arrangements to return to the UK, the government said.
In a statement on its website budget airline easyjet PLC said that customers in the resort who were due to travel to the UK or Italy after Saturday are being offered a seat on three further flights operating on Tuesday next week. The airline echoed that customers choosing to stay in Egypt beyond that date must make their own travel arrangements.
British Airways, part of International Consolidated Airlines group SA, said all flights to Sharm el Sheikh up to and including Monday, November 23 have been cancelled. Flights from Thursday, November 26 are under review.
It said flights from Sharm el Sheikh that were due to operate on Monday and Thursday next week and on Saturday, November 21 and Monday, November 23, have been cancelled. It will be operating a flight on Saturday, November 14 with "extra" security measures.
Charter and budget airline Monarch said it will operate flights from Sharm el Sheikh to the UK until Tuesday next week.
The airline said that further flights to and from Sharm el Sheikh up to and including flights which were scheduled to depart on Saturday, December 19 have been cancelled.
Meanwhile, Thomas Cook Group PLC said it has cancelled its flight and holiday programme up to and including Wednesday, November 25. The airline said that Friday's flight schedule will have the last Thomas Cook repatriation flight.
Shares in easyJet were down 0.4% at 1,788.50 pence on Friday afternoon. Shares in IAG were down 0.9% at 590.50p. Thomas Cook shares were down 3.8% at 107.00p.
By Samuel Agini; samagini@alliancenews.com; @samuelagini
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International Airlines (IAG)
easyJet (EZJ)