EgyptAir Cargo (MSX, Cairo International) resumed direct flights to Russia on December 21 following the successful completion of flights MS5520/1 between Cairo International and Moscow Domodedovo.

The service, operated by A300B4 freighter SU-GAS (cn 561), came after Russia and Egypt signed a protocol for the resumption of cargo flights earlier this month.

Following the fatal bombing of a MetroJet (Russian Federation) (Moscow Domodedovo) A321-200 over the Sinai Peninsula in October 2015, Moscow banned EgyptAir (MS, Cairo International) and all other Egyptian carriers citing concerns about the North African state's aviation security protocols. Since then, Egypt has sought to overhaul its broad standing security oversight in a bid to lure back international tourist traffic to its Red Sea Riviera resorts.

Russia's Sputnik news reported last week that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin discussed the resumption of passenger flights with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi during a recent phone call. Both sides reportedly noted the progress made by Russian and Egyptian experts and security personnel in strengthening Egypt's flight and airport security.