British Airways aircraft stand on their parking positions at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain
The airline has suspended all flights for a week as a security measure (Picture: EPA)

British Airways and Lufthansa have suddenly suspended all flights to Cairo amid security concerns.

Passengers ready to board a flight from London Heathrow to the Egyptian capital today were turned away after the flight was cancelled.

They were then told there would be no alternative flights for a week, after the airline suspended the journeys as a ‘precaution’.

However, the airline did not specify what the security issue was but needed more time to ‘assess’ the situation.

A spokeswoman later added: ‘We are rebooking customers who wish to travel this week on flights with alternative airlines. Customers who no longer wish to travel will be offered a refund.’

A Cairo Airport spokesperson said the airport hadn’t yet been informed by British Airways of any changes, reported the BBC.

Lufthansa has temporarily suspended flights to the Egyptian capital Cairo but will resume them on Sunday.

It comes after the UK Foreign Office updated its advice for Brits travelling to Egypt on Friday, stating there is a ‘heightened risk of terrorism against aviation’.

Cairo is included in an ‘orange zone’ meaning the government ‘advises against all but essential travel’.

The UK Foreign Office on Friday updated its travel advice for Brits visiting Egypt, advising against 'all but essential travel' to the capital
The UK Foreign Office on Friday updated its travel advice for Brits visiting Egypt, advising against ‘all but essential travel’ to the capital (Picture: gov.uk)

The advice states: ‘Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Egypt.

‘Although most attacks occur in North Sinai, there is a risk of terrorist attacks across the country.’

‘Additional security measures are in place for flights departing from Egypt to the UK,’ the warning added.

A BA spokesman said: ‘We constantly review our security arrangements at all our airports around the world, and have suspended flights to Cairo for seven days as a precaution to allow for further assessment.

‘The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our priority, and we would never operate an aircraft unless it was safe to do so.’

It is understood British Airways made the Department for Transport aware of its decision ahead of the announcement.

A Government spokesman said: ‘We are aware that British Airways is notifying passengers that it has decided to suspend flights to Cairo temporarily.’

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