Only eight out of 29 planned flights to Britain will leave Sharm el-Sheikh on Friday to repatriate stranded tourists, Egypt's civil aviation minister said, blaming luggage restrictions for the reduction.

Hossam Kamal said that a requirement that passengers take only their hand luggage with them on the resumed flights had forced the move as Sharm el-Sheikh airport could not accommodate more than 120 tonnes of check-in baggage left behind.