From Israeli Air Force base to Egypt's third-busiest international airport
In short: Sharm El Sheikh International Airport has undergone a dramatic transformation. Once an Israeli Air Force base opened in 1968, it transitioned into a major civilian hub following the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty. Today, it stands as one of the Middle East's busiest airports, serving as a vital gateway for global tourism.
The airport's history is deeply tied to regional geopolitics. It opened on May 14, 1968, serving as an Israeli Air Force base. Once the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace accord was signed and Israel vacated the Sinai Peninsula, the site resumed civilian operations.
The airport's infrastructure has seen significant evolution. The original terminal, now known as Terminal 2, underwent modernization in 2004 and has a capacity of 2.5 million passengers per year. In 2007, the airport inaugurated Terminal 1, a 43,000-square-meter facility with a capacity for 5 million passengers per year. While Terminal 1 handles most international traffic, Terminal 2 remains the primary hub for domestic flights.
Operational history has not been without tragedy and tension. In 2015, the airport faced a major crisis after Metrojet Flight 9268 was destroyed by a bomb planted by ISIL's Sinai Peninsula Branch, killing all 224 people on board. This event led to widespread flight suspensions from Russia and the United Kingdom. Additionally, in August 2015, Thomson Airways Flight 476 narrowly avoided a missile from an Egyptian military exercise that missed the aircraft by approximately 1,000 feet.
Looking toward the future, the airport aims to expand its capacity significantly. Plans were set to increase annual capacity to 18 million passengers by 2025. While a proposed third terminal project faced delays by September 2016, recent expansions of Terminal 2 have already increased its annual capacity from 7 million to 9 million passengers.
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