A rise in tension within the dispute involving
Iran and Israel took place overnight
, causing mass
flight diversions over Middle East airspace
and dozens of cancellations as air strikes surged.
Iran
launched more than
100 drones towards Israel
after pre-dawn strikes by the IDF hit
Tehran
’s nuclear sites and killed top military commanders.
Israel
said 200 fighter jets took part in strikes on
more than 100 targets
overnight in Iran with tensions rising so sharply that they could ignite
an expanded confrontation in the Middle East
.
Egypt boasts numerous popular tourist attractions, and although the UK’s Foreign Office has advised against visiting certain regions of the nation, many well-liked vacation spots remain deemed safe for travelers. As a result, tour operators and air carriers continue their operations within the country.
What is happening?
Around 3 AM local time (1 AM UK time), Israel initiated airstrikes targeting locations within Iran. The Israeli authorities alerted their citizens to be ready for potential counterstrikes with missiles.
Iran has launched approximately 100 drones as part of their retaliation. According to an Israeli military officer, numerous drones have been successfully intercepted; however, several remain headed towards Israel. The officer stated that the circumstances are currently stable.
There have so far been no reports of civilian casualties in the strikes, but reports are still emerging from on the ground.
What is the distance between Israel and Egypt?
Although Israel shares a border with Egypt, many of the nation’s principal cities and popular tourist spots are located quite far from this boundary. As such, Egypt has largely managed to stay out of the conflict between Israel and Gaza.
The closest location is Sharm el-Sheikh, which is more than two and a half hours’ drive from the nearest border town and over five hours away by road from the region near the Gaza border.
Cairo
, Alexandria, Hurghada and
Luxor
are even further away.
Is my trip to Egypt going to face disruptions?
Thousands of travelers from the
The UK found itself in unforeseen locations.
because of the abrupt shutdown of air traffic in the Middle East.
Airlines, including
Air India
, Emirates and
Qatar Airways
, redirected their routes at short notice following the escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran. FlightRadar recorded the instant when civilian airspace emptied out as soon as the attacks commenced, illustrating how quickly aircraft vacated Iranian air space.
Some flights cancelled their onward journey mid-flight, while others continued after diversions, creating delays to international flight schedules and causing many passengers flying from the UK to miss connections.
Qatar Airways
diverted two flights from the UK to Cairo: the overnight departures from
Manchester
And London Heathrow were also above Turkish airspace when they changed course and headed south towards Cairo, the Egyptian capital. Having since refueled, they are now resuming their trips.
The Cairo Airport has experienced several cancellations, with both numerous incoming flights and an even greater number of outgoing flights being significantly delayed, according to FlightRadar data.
The Sharm el-Sheikh airport seemed to experience fewer impacts; however, numerous flights departing on Friday morning faced delays.
What do I need to know about my rights as a traveler?
According to air passenger rights regulations, travelers whose journey starts in the UK or the European Union have the right to be transported to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.
Should your canceled flight be governed by UK law, travelers have the option to either opt for an alternate flight or receive a refund if the departure is not taking place as scheduled.
Should you receive fewer than 14 days’ notice for a cancellation, you might still have grounds to seek compensation. Nonetheless, such claims are improbable unless the airline is at fault for the cancellation.
What should I do if I’ve arranged a package trip to Egypt?
Package vacations continue to operate normally. Should you have a scheduled trip coming up and wish to reschedule, reach out to your tour operator or holiday provider; they might provide some leeway. Nonetheless, should this not be possible, travelers do not currently have justification for requesting a refund upon cancellation. Additionally, claims for reimbursement via travel insurance are unlikely since the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) hasn’t released a general “avoid all non-essential travel” warning specifically concerning Egypt.
Should FCDO guidance shift to recommending against traveling altogether, you have the option to cancel a package vacation free of charge and receive a complete refund.
Your travel insurance might not cover you if you decide to travel despite the warnings from the FCDO.
What does the UK Foreign Office recommend regarding travel to Egypt?
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office revised its travel guidance for Egypt on June 13th, focusing on the ongoing dispute between Iran and Israel.
“Continuing conflicts within the area as well as those involving Israel and Iran have the potential to intensify rapidly, posing significant security concerns across the broader region. Reports indicate that remnants from military activities are scattered in different areas. You might experience travel interruptions such as canceled flights and restricted airspaces. Additionally, gatherings like demonstrations and protests could happen,” the advisory noted.
They also stated that travelers ought to keep an eye on both local and global news outlets for up-to-date details and remain alert while adhering to directives from governmental bodies.
The FCDO additionally mentioned that the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority instructed all airlines and travel agencies to make sure that every passenger arriving in Egypt from June 12th to June 16th possesses a verified return ticket.
“Travelers who cannot prove this may be denied entry into the country,” it further stated.
The FCDO recommends avoiding travel to specific regions of Egypt. They advise against traveling anywhere within 20 kilometers of the Egypt-Libya border and discourage all trips to the North Sinai Governorate.
The FCDO likewise recommends avoiding all non-essential trips to:
- The town of El Salloum
- In the northern section of Egypt’s South Sinai Governorate, located past the St Catherine-Nuweibaa road, one will find everything but the western and eastern coastlines of the peninsula.
- The Ismailiyah Governorate located to the east of the Suez Canal.
-
The region located to the west of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta, excluding certain specified areas,
here
. - The Hala’ib Triangle and the Bir Tawil Trapezoid.
The advisory doesn’t caution against visiting major Egyptian tourist spots such as Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria, along with the Red Sea beach resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada.
The FCDO also cautions that “borders within Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) might suddenly shut down, which includes the Taba border crossing between Israel and Egypt.”
It suggests verifying with local authorities and reviewing Israel’s and OPTs’ travel advisories prior to exiting or entering Gaza.
“The Rafah border crossing is presently shut down. Upon reopening, Israel, Egypt, and the officials in Gaza will decide the rules for who can pass through and at what times,” it states.
“Humanitarian aid workers cannot enter or exit Gaza through Egypt at this time.”
Egyptian officials have stated that all assistance destined for Gaza should pass through the Egyptian Red Crescent. Detailed standard operating procedures are available on the Logistics Cluster website. It is improbable that they will entertain urgent appeals for humanitarian entry into Egypt.
Should you be worried about your acquaintances or relatives, or require assistance from the UK government, contact the British Embassy in Cairo.
Phone: +20 (0)2 2791 6000. In case of technical issues with this number, dial +44 1767 667 600 (a UK number).
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