"We are providing maximum assistance and support to the Russian and Egyptian experts working on [air travel] security. The Egyptian people are waiting for a positive signal from the Russian side on the possibility of restoring this vital area for the Egyptian economy," Shoukry said.
Addressing Russian lower house of parliament lawmakers, the Egyptian diplomat noted that 4 million Egyptians employed in the tourist sector are looking forward to hosting Russian holidaymakers.
Last month, Egyptian Tourism Minister Hisham Zazou estimated the loss of Russian and British tourists following the deadly Russian-operated plane crash over Sinai last fall was costing the Egyptian tourism sector $300 million a month. Egyptian media cited ministry sources as calculating the losses incurred in the four months since the incident as totaling $2.3 billion.
Shoukry said the investigation into the downing of the A321 passenger plane, which claimed the lives of all 224 people on board, was continuing, adding that a terrorist attack had been identified as the preliminary cause behind what has become the biggest civil aviation disaster in Russian history.
