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Breaking: British Airways has suspended ALL flights to Cairo, Egypt for seven days "as a precaution to allow for further assessment" 
British Airways are citing “security reasons” for the immediate suspension of all Cairo, Egypt flights — unclear if it is in relation to tensions in nearby Gulf.
BA say the airline “would never operate an aircraft unless it was safe to do so” #Cairo
It’s worth highlighting at this point that UK government last year lifted a ban on electronic devices in the aircraft cabin on all UK-bound flights from Cairo, Egypt
(The ban was introduced in 2017 as a precaution against a potential terrorism threat)
(The ban was introduced in 2017 as a precaution against a potential terrorism threat)
British Airways is one of two airlines flying nonstop between UK and Cairo — the other is EgyptAir
EgyptAir flights to/from London are both airborne, continuing as normal. #Cairo
EgyptAir flights to/from London are both airborne, continuing as normal. #Cairo
Breaking: UK Foreign Office update travel advice for Egypt, warning: “There is a heightened risk of terrorism against aviation” #Cairo
Confirmed: British Airways is rebooking some passengers on flights to/from #Cairo operated by partner airlines in the oneworld alliance — including on Royal Jordanian, via Amman.
EgyptAir, Thomas Cook, easyJet and TUI also fly direct from UK to Egyptian airports — (at this point, it’s unclear if they will also be affected) #Egypt
Update: British Airways is rebooking passengers on direct EgyptAir flights between London-Cairo — (which leaves some passengers questioning why, on the same route, it’s safe on one airline, but not the other?)
It’s very normal for airlines to take independent safety & security decisions/action that is not necessarily 100% in line with other carriers.
(We saw this with ElectronicsBan, 737 MAX, Iran airspace etc). #Egypt #BritishAirways
(We saw this with ElectronicsBan, 737 MAX, Iran airspace etc). #Egypt #BritishAirways
@AlexInAir on @LBC: “When BA were dissatisfied with Egypt’s aviation security in the past, they continued the cabin electronics ban. This is v different — being a full, and immediate suspension” lbc.co.uk/news/british-a…
Breaking: Lufthansa flights from Germany to Cairo, Egypt are cancelled ⚠️ #Egypt
Breaking: Lufthansa tell me:
“As safety is the number one priority of Lufthansa, the airline has temporarily suspended its flights to #Cairo today as a precaution, while further assessment is being made.”
“As safety is the number one priority of Lufthansa, the airline has temporarily suspended its flights to #Cairo today as a precaution, while further assessment is being made.”
Latest: Europe’s two largest national carrier airlines, British Airways and Lufthansa — have suspended ALL flights to Cairo, citing security reasons, effective immediately. #Egypt
Important to highlight: Airlines are under no obligation to share “what they know” with passengers when it comes to aviation security
Following any intelligence, if an airlines’ risk assessment concludes it necessary to suspend flights immediately — they’ll do just that. #Egypt
Following any intelligence, if an airlines’ risk assessment concludes it necessary to suspend flights immediately — they’ll do just that. #Egypt
Full statement from Lufthansa —regarding the suspension of #Cairo flights, which is effective today.
Latest: British Airways is rebooking some passengers affected by #Cairo suspension on EgyptAir flights between London-Cairo (suggesting the UK is still ok for passengers to fly the direct route, despite the ‘security reasons)
I’m live on @AlJazeera now — as British Airways & Lufthansa immediately suspend Cairo, Egypt flights - citing security reasons.
Live on @AlJazeera: Ordinarily, if an airline were dissatisfied with the security at a foreign airport, they’d reach out to the airport authorities to implement extra security, etc #Cairo
LIVE on Al Jazeera: “Given the nature of only two airlines suspending #Cairo routes, many are now asking what ‘security reasons’ BA are acting on by suspending flights, that EgyptAir are not”
LIVE on @AlJazeera: “Airlines are under no obligation to explain the security reasons to passengers. As passengers, we should have faith in their decisions — especially when they choose not to fly” #Cairo
LIVE on @AlJazeera: “There are ongoing threats to aviation” #Cairo
Latest: Chairman of Cairo Airport Company says British Airways “did not inform them of any concerns regarding airport security prior to cancelling flights”
Important: To answer the thousands of tweets concluding it’s somehow ‘political’ — note that @British_Airways’ (private company) route network decisions are *never* political
The sudden #Cairo route suspension is based solely on BA’s constant in-house security risk assessments
The sudden #Cairo route suspension is based solely on BA’s constant in-house security risk assessments
While it’s become normal in some parts of world for governments to use the airline as a political chess piece (i.e when Saudia Airlines were forced to axe all Canada flights because Saudi gov didn’t like tweets from Canada about Saudi human rights) — this isn’t how it works in UK
“Airlines are under no obligation to explain the security reasons to passengers.
As passengers, we should have faith in their decisions — especially when they choose not to fly” #Cairo ⚠️✈️❌
As passengers, we should have faith in their decisions — especially when they choose not to fly” #Cairo ⚠️✈️❌
Latest: Egyptian newspaper are claiming British Airways #Cairo route suspension is ‘political’ (it’s not) —- others claim Cairo airport authorities were not aware BA had any concerns over security.
Latest: Air France say “In liaison with the French authorities and the local authorities in Egypt, Air France has decided to maintain its service to Cairo” #Egypt
Latest: Emirates say “We are closely assessing the situation and are in contact with the relevant aviation authorities with regards to our flight operations to Egypt”
(The “situation” they are referring to remains continues to remain unknown) #Egypt
(The “situation” they are referring to remains continues to remain unknown) #Egypt
Latest: UAE flag carrier “Etihad Airways is monitoring the security situation in Cairo”
(Again, the ‘situation’ remains unknown, at least for now) #Cairo
(Again, the ‘situation’ remains unknown, at least for now) #Cairo
Latest: EgyptAir will operate Boeing 777s on flights between London-Cairo in order to increase capacity for passengers affected by BA suspension of the route. #Cairo
Breaking: Egyptian officials claim (live on air) that UK Government is tactically using British Airways by suspending #Cairo flights ⚠️
LIVE: I react on air, explaining this is an absurd claim. BA is a private company, not a political chess piece of any government.
LIVE: I react on air, explaining this is an absurd claim. BA is a private company, not a political chess piece of any government.
Update: Last night, Egyptian officials claimed (live on air) that UK Government is tactically using British Airways by suspending Cairo flights ⚠️
LIVE: I react on air, explaining BA is a private company — not a political chess piece of any government.
LIVE: I react on air, explaining BA is a private company — not a political chess piece of any government.
Here’s the full show, including the Egyptian General’s attack on British Airways:
