Egypt Responds to Increasing Tourist Numbers by Boosting Airport Capacity

The on-going Airports Development Project, which was set up to eliminate capacity problems at Cairo and Sharm el Sheikh airports is set to continue with the planned creation of a third terminal building at Cairo airport. The initiative, created in response to the growing popularity of Egypt holidays ensures that visitors to the country won’t face any unnecessary waiting before they start their holiday.
Luke Nathan of online travel consultants Travelsoon.com says: “The Airports Development Project has been in existence since 2003, when it was realised that both Cairo and Sharm el Sheikh airports were struggling with their capacity restraints, and were collectively handling 62% of all air transport traffic to Egypt. So the second terminal at Sharm el Sheikh was built and opened in July 2009, to cope with the increasing demand, which has now paved the way for Cairo to get a third terminal.”
The popularity of cheap holidays to Sharm El Sheikh has caused more visitors to visit Egypt in recent years, with officials at Sharm el Sheikh airport reporting an increase in traffic of 12% to 18% annually from 2002-2008. Sharm el Sheikh airport’s second terminal was officially opened in July 2009, and boasts a design capacity of 4.5 million passengers per year.
Nathan continues: “More holiday companies are offering holidays to Sharm el sheikh than ever before, opening up the area to many more potential holidaymakers over the last few years. As a result the area has had so many more tourists choosing to holiday there, including those who might not have been able to afford a holiday there, had it not been for the accessibility of cheap Sharm El Sheikh holidays.”