Shalufa Air Base

The initial 'closure' was a military handover from the British RAF to the Egyptian Air Force as part of the treaty ending British military presence in the Suez Canal Zone. Its subsequent decline and abandonment by the EAF were likely due to a combination of strategic obsolescence, the high cost of maintaining and upgrading a WWII-era facility for modern aircraft, and the consolidation of air assets at more modern, strategically located bases following the major regional wars.

The site is completely non-operational and abandoned as an airfield. Satellite imagery confirms that the main runway and taxiways, while still clearly visible, are in a severe state of disrepair, with extensive cracking, vegetation growth, and sand encroachment. The hardened aircraft shelters (revetments), hangars, and support buildings appear derelict. The land is undeveloped and shows no signs of current aviation activity. The area remains under the jurisdiction of the Egyptian military but is not actively used as an air base.

Shalufa Air Base holds significant military history.

1. **British Era (WWII - 1956):** Established by the RAF around 1943, it served as a major strategic base in the Suez Canal Zone. It was a vital staging post, transport hub, and maintenance depot for operations in the Middle East and North Africa. It hosted numerous famous squadrons and aircraft, including Vickers Wellington and Avro Lancaster bombers, and later, Handley Page Hastings transport aircraft. It was one of the last RAF stations to be handed over to Egypt.

2. **Egyptian Era (1956 - late 20th Century):** After the handover, it became an important base for the Egyptian Air Force. It was a primary target for Anglo-French air strikes during the 1956 Suez Crisis. The base was also involved and targeted in subsequent regional conflicts, including the Six-Day War (1967) and the Yom Kippur War (1973), where it was attacked by the Israeli Air Force.

There are no known or publicly announced plans to reopen or redevelop Shalufa Air Base for either military or civilian aviation. The extensive degradation of the infrastructure would require a complete reconstruction, making any such project extremely costly. Given the proximity of other active military and civilian airports in the region, its reopening is considered highly improbable.