The group, which comprised airlines, tour operators, hoteliers and Nile cruise companies, has created the Travel Industry Egypt Advisory Group, which is working in partnership with the Egyptian Tourist Office in London.

In a statement the body of companies including Tui, Monarch, Saga Holidays, Discover Egypt and Cox & Kings among others, said it had met with the all-party parliamentary group on Egypt in the House of Commons and House of Lords to “seek support for a swift government decision”.

One operator said he was now selling as much in one year as he used to sell in a week to the destination, and there was frustration that British businesses were being “penalised” in comparison with German and other European operators, which have been allowed to fly back into Sharm.

The delegation added that there was confusion over whether the public could still travel to Egypt, and if so where they could go, as well as concern caused by the uncertainty as to when the ban would be lifted, with airlines having to plan their schedules at least four months before departure.

The group added that if a decision on the flight ban was not taken in the next two weeks, a number of airlines would miss the opportunity to return to Sharm for winter 2016/17.

Sir Gerald Howarth MP and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Egypt is reported to have “commented on the large contingent attending the meeting”, stating that  “this was clearly a sign of the pressure facing the travel industry”.
 
He urged travel companies to speak up about the impact the ban was having on their businesses and to write to their local MPs, communicating what needs to be done.

Howarth also told the group that during his three visits to Egypt this year he had met representatives of the Department for Transport who had told him that they felt the conditions had been met to enable flights to resume.

He added that he had written to Prime Minister Theresa May “asking for a swift decision on the matter”.

Khaled Fouda, governor of South Sinai who previously welcomed the parliamentary group and showed them the upgrades and facilities in Sharm el Sheikh airport said: “We believe we have done everything possible and more to deliver world class and secure airports.

“While Germany has taken a decision to resume flights on the basis of that work, the British government still hasn’t. We have to ask the British government to be clear and let us know if more needs to be done, or to lift the ban in line with the rest of Europe.”

Rasha Azaizi director of the Egyptian State Tourist Office in London added: “This long term ban on flights to Sharm El Sheikh is now affecting many UK travel businesses as well as airlines and is causing deep consumer confusion.

“No other country apart from Russia still has a flight ban on flights to Sharm el Sheikh, but the UK government has still not yet made a decision.  

"We have been led to understand that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Transport are all now happy with the measures put in place following stringent security reviews. We truly feel it’s time for the British government to make a decision before the crucial winter holiday season.”