Egypt has hired a British risk consultancy to oversee airport security two months after a Russian passenger jet crashed in the Sinai Peninsula killing all 224 people on board.
Civil Aviation Minister Hossam Kamal said on Tuesday that the company, Control Risks, will review security procedures and provide input to the authorities on airport security, while the Interior Ministry will remain in charge of safeguarding both airports.
"Our objective is to make sure these airports comply with international aviation standards," Andreas Carleton-Smith, chief executive of the Middle East and North Africa branch of Control Risks, told reporters in Cairo.
On October 31, a Russian passenger jet crashed in the Sinai Peninsula shortly after taking off from the popular Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Russia said last month that the Airbus A321 was brought down by a terrorist bomb.
"The air transport industry is facing several challenges globally ... especially the upsurge of terrorism in different parts of the world," Kamal said.
Tourism Minister Hesham Zaazou said: "Ensuring safe and secure flights for everyone travelling to Egypt, whether for business or pleasure, is a top priority of the Egyptian government."
Both ministers denied that signing the deal with Control Risks had anything to do with the Sinai crash.
Since the Sinai crash, several international organisations have inspected the security measures undertaken at Egyptian airports, while Britain and Russia suspended their flights to Egypt.
Zaazou had said in November that the suspension of Russian and British flights to Egypt, less than a week after the crash, would cost the country about 2.2 billion Egyptian pounds ($A390 million) a month.
Tourism is a main pillar of the Egyptian economy.
Share
