The Metrojet's Airbus A-321 with registration number EI-ETJ that crashed in Egypt's Sinai peninsula, is seen in this picture taken in Antalya, Turkey September 17, 2015. (Reuters Photo)

MOSCOW, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Direct flights between Russia and Egypt will likely reopen in February 2018, Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said Friday following a meeting with visiting Egyptian Civil Aviation Minister Sherif Fathy.

During the meeting, the two ministers signed an inter-governmental protocol on cooperation in ensuring civil aviation safety, which laid down the legal framework necessary for authorized companies to prepare for the resumption of direct flights, Sokolov said in a statement.

"This is the first step toward the resumption of air links between our two countries and it will possibly allow flights to Cairo in February next year," he said.

"However, a lot of work is ahead. So we need to finish the governmental procedures for the resumption of air service. Now such work is being carried out promptly," he said.

After the meeting, Fathy told reporters that both ministers agreed to reopen Moscow-Cairo direct route on Feb. 1.

In Oct. 2015, a Russian airplane bound for St. Petersburg crashed over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula shortly after taking off from the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh. All 224 people on board were killed.

Moscow said that the airliner was hit by a terrorist bomb attack and suspended direct flights between the two countries.