Sharm el Sheikh Q&A: Your Questions Answered

Travelzoo Staff
10 Nov 2015

Updated on 27 January, 2016: This post was originally published on 10 November, 2015, following the downing of Russian Metrojet Flight 9268. Much of the content has been updated since, to reflect the latest government advice regarding travel to and from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh.

For the latest information on the airlines' flight bans, please see the information at the bottom of the page. 

What is the government's advice for travel to Egypt in 2016?

As of 27 January, 2016, the website for the The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) states: 

"The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the Governorate of South Sinai, with the exception of the area within the Sharm el Sheikh perimeter barrier, which includes the airport and the areas of Sharm el Maya, Hadaba, Na'ama Bay, Sharks Bay and Nabq; however, we advise against all but essential travel by air to or from Sharm el Sheikh.

"The areas to which the FCO advise against all but essential travel do not include the tourist areas along the Nile river (eg Luxor, Qina, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings) or the Red Sea Resorts of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada.

"As a precautionary measure, we are advising against all but essential travel by air to or from Sharm el Sheikh.

"We are not raising the threat level in the resort. The above advice applies only to air travel to and from Sharm el Sheikh."

Where should I go instead of Sharm el Sheikh?

According to one travel company we work with, the top three destinations for re-bookings are Cyprus, the Canary Islands and Morocco. For another Red Sea alternative, consider the Israeli resort of Eilat.

Are any airlines operating flights to Sharm el Sheikh?

Following FCO advice, there are no flights operating between the UK and Sharm el Sheikh. Here's the latest advice from individual airlines that operate on this route:

  • British Airways has cancelled all flights to and from Sharm el Sheikh until 30 June, 2016 
  • Thomson Airways has cancelled all flights to and from Sharm el Sheikh until 23 March, 2016
  • Thomas Cook has cancelled all flights to and from Sharm el Sheikh until 23 March, 2016
  • easyJet has cancelled all flights to and from Sharm el Sheikh until 27 May, 2016 

For the latest government advice on travel to Egypt, visit the website for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

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