El Arish International Airport (Arabic: مطار العريش الدولي) (IATA: AAC, ICAO: HEAR) is an airport south of El Arish, Egypt.
El Arish International Airport مطار العريش الدولي | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | Government | ||||||||||
| Serves | El Arish, Egypt | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 121 ft / 37 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 31°02′16.3″N 033°49′8.9″E / 31.037861°N 33.819139°E | ||||||||||
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  AAC Location of the airport in Egypt Sinai | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2011) | |||||||||||
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| Source: DAFIF[1][2] | |||||||||||
Location and size
editThe site of the airport is 160 hectares (400 acres) in area.[3] Its terminal has the capacity for 200 passengers per hour.[3] The tarmac, which is 3,019 metres (9,905 ft) long, fits four aircraft.[3]
El Arish is one of the closest airports to the Gaza Strip. El Gora Airport is slightly closer, but smaller. El Arish International Airport is approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi) from the Rafah Border Crossing.[4][5]
Operations
editPalestinian Airlines relocated to El Arish International Airport after Yasser Arafat International Airport was rendered non-operational when the runway was destroyed by Israeli forces in 2001.[6][7] All Palestinian Airlines flights were grounded from 2005 to 2012.[5]
In 2011 the airport served 5,991 passengers (-45.4% vs. 2010).
In May 2012, Palestinian Airlines restarted two weekly flights to Amman, with flights to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia planned to follow soon after.[5][8] The airport has been mainly used for Palestinian passengers from the Gaza Strip traveling to Saudi Arabia for hajj and umrah.[6]
Palestinian Airlines ceased operations in December 2020.[9] At the time of Palestinian Airlines' closure, its two Fokker 50 planes—both over 30 years old—operated flights between El Arish, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.[6]
During the Gaza war, the airport was used as a staging ground for medical flights to the United Arab Emirates.[10]
Current operations
editEgyptair currently serves air transport to Ostend and Cairo. Egyptair uses a Cargo Airbus A330 to operate the route between El Arish and Ostend.[citation needed]
Major expansion and development project
editEl Arish International Airport is currently undergoing one of the most significant development projects in North Sinai's history. The Egyptian government has announced a comprehensive expansion plan aimed at transforming the airport into a major aviation, logistics, and economic hub serving El Arish, its seaport, and the large-scale development initiatives taking shape across North Sinai and the areas east of the Suez Canal.[11]
The project includes the construction of a new civil aviation complex covering approximately 823 feddans. At the heart of the expansion is a modern passenger terminal spanning 17,500 square metres, designed to accommodate 800 passengers per hour—four times the capacity of the airport's original terminal. The new terminal will feature dedicated departure and arrival halls, a VIP lounge, and a specialized terminal area for Hajj and Umrah travelers, significantly enhancing the airport's ability to serve both domestic and international passengers.[11]
Airside infrastructure is also being dramatically expanded. Plans include a new apron and main aircraft parking area capable of accommodating 10 Airbus A320 aircraft simultaneously, a substantial increase from the airport's previous capacity. The project further includes a 3-kilometre-long, 45-metre-wide primary runway, a secondary 3-kilometre taxiway, and extensive upgrades to roads, operational facilities, and support infrastructure throughout the airport complex.[11]
Beyond aviation facilities, the development encompasses the construction of 30 administrative and service buildings, meteorological stations, electrical substations, integrated water supply systems, firefighting facilities, sewage networks, telecommunications infrastructure, and other operational support systems.[11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Airport information for HEAR". World Aero Data. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Data current as of October 2006. Source: DAFIF.
- ↑ "Airport information for AAC". DAFIF. October 2006 – via Great Circle Mapper.
- 1 2 3 Galal, Rami (1 February 2018). "Securing Sinai airport comes at cost to locals". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023.
- ↑ "More aid flights arrive in Egypt's Sinai, awaiting passage to Gaza". Reuters. 14 October 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023.
- 1 2 3 "Palestinian Airline resumes flights, with Amman route". AFP. 10 May 2012. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022 – via Al Arabiya.
- 1 2 3 Abu Amer, Ahmad (6 January 2021). "PA shuts down Palestinian Airlines, shuttering hopes for airport". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021.
- ↑ Humphries, Monica; Lakritz, Talia (12 October 2023). "An abandoned airport in Gaza once served as a symbol of peace. Now, its ruins remain frozen in time — take a look". Business Insider.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Palestinian airline resumes flights - Khaleej Times". www.khaleejtimes.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013.
- ↑ ch-aviation.com - Palestinian Airlines goes into liquidation 30 December 2020
- ↑ "On board an emergency evacuation flight from Gaza". CBS News. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 صبري, طارق (24 May 2026). "مصر تسرع من وتيرة تطوير مطارين دوليين شمال ووسط سيناء.. ما القصة ؟". خاص مصر (in Arabic). Retrieved 30 May 2026.
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