Cairo Airport … flights are subject to disruption

What does the Foreign Office advise?

The FCO (www.fco.gov.uk) is advising against all but essential travel to Cairo (all four governorates, including Giza), Alexandria, Luxor and Suez.

The nationwide curfew has been extended from 3pm to 8am local time. Flights to other destinations - via Cairo - are not affected, however with some governments advising their nationals to leave the city, flight schedules are disrupted. For example, a BMI flight from Heathrow to Cairo on Saturday had to return mid-journey as the Egyptian authorities changed curfew times. Travellers due to take flights to Cairo should check with their airline or tour operator.

Should I risk it? I’m keen to see the Pyramids at Giza

Cheapflights advises following the FCO. If your trip is not esssential, don’t go. In any case, as Travelmole reports today, the Pyramids at Giza have been closed off by the army. Thomson says excursions to Cairo have been cancelled, while excursions to Luxor have been suspended until further notice.

By travelling to a destination against Foreign Office advice, most insurance policies are invalidated.

I’ve booked with Thomson. What should I do?

Check the website (www.thomson.co.uk). Thomson has cancelled some flights and holidays (to Luxor, Aswan). Thomas Cook has cancelled flights to Luxor for 2 February (thomascook.com).

I’ve booked a half-term holiday in Sharm el Sheikh. Should I cancel?

Tour operators insist that the Red Sea resorts such as Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada are safe. Thomson states that “the resort of Sharm el Sheikh operates like a country in itself”. Both are hundreds of miles from Cairo.  “The equivalent of driving from London to Dortmund, Germany, or from Manchester to Bruges, Belgium, via the channel tunnel,” says Thomson.

Simon Calder, writing in The Independent, notes that security in Sharm el Sheikh is very high and unemployment is nonexistent. “Egyptians aren’t allowed to live there unless they have a job in tourism,” he says.

Last updated at 2.20pm on Monday, 31 January 2011.

(Image: madd0)

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