Keenan says Australian air travel is safe

Justice Minister Michael Keenan has assured Australians that air travel is safe following claims by terror group Islamic State that they downed a Russian airliner on the Sinai Peninsular.

Mr Keenan said IS was a barbarous terrorist organisation but it wasn't confirmed that they were responsible for the crash of the aircraft and the death of all 224 on board.

"Travelling on a plane in Australia is safe and we operate within a very hardened aircraft safety environment," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

The Russian aircraft broke up at high altitude, leading to speculation it was brought down by a bomb, possibly smuggled aboard before departing Sharm el-Sheikh airport.

Mr Keenan said Australia was working with allies on further advice on what happened.

"If we can provide an update to the Australian people, we will," he said.