Russia may stop flying to potentially dangerous countries

The Russian authorities may ban on flights not only to Egypt, but also to other countries, where the situation remains unstable.

A source from Russian state institutions said that Russia's air communication with Egypt had been interrupted for a long time. "The ban on the flights to Egypt will last not just for a month or two, but for years," an anonymous source said. The source also said that Russia may stop flying to other countries in the near future.

A few days ago, following the UK, Australia, Holland and France, Russia grounded flights to Egypt. The ban was introduced soon after the crash of the Russian passenger jetliner in Sinai.

"Naturally, there are increased risks in the countries that are involved in various conflicts - this is a  permanent situation," Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said after a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

According to the official, Russian security services have not made recommendations to restrict flights to other countries. The Federation Council assumes that Russia may soon ban the flights to other unstable countries as well. "The Islamic State and terrorism have very seriously expanded their influence. We must be prepared for the fact that Russia can become a target for terrorists,"  first deputy chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, Franz Klintsevich said.

Earlier, the head of the press service of the Federal Agency for Tourism, Irina Schegolkova, announced that Russian tourists must take the terrorist threat into account before buying a ticket to such common destinations as Turkey or Tunisia, as no one can guarantee safety even in well-protected tourist zones.

In 2015, because of the euro and dollar rate against the Russian ruble and against the background of a series of terrorist acts in popular tourist destinations, many Russian tourists preferred either to stay home or go to the Crimea.

On October 31, Airbus A321 of Kogalymavia crashed as it was flying from Sharm el Sheikh to St. Petersburg. All 224 people aboard were killed.

The tourists, who booked tours to Egypt before President Putin signed a decree to stop all flights to the country, are offered to choose from other destinations, such as Turkey and Thailand. However, many tourists do not want to cancel their trips despite the potential danger.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that he was unaware whether President Putin was considering an opportunity to expand the list of countries, where Russian airlines would not be allowed to fly.