El Nuzha Airport

The primary official reason for the closure was to allow for a major renovation and expansion project. This project was intended to upgrade the passenger terminal, extend the main runway to accommodate larger aircraft, and improve overall facilities. However, during the closure, all air traffic was permanently diverted to the much larger and more modern Borg El Arab Airport (HBE). The strategic decision to consolidate Alexandria's air traffic at Borg El Arab, which is better equipped for modern international flights, became the de facto reason for El Nuzha's continued closure to commercial services, even after renovations were reportedly completed.

The airport is not derelict; its infrastructure, including runways and taxiways, is maintained. It remains an active airfield but is closed to the public and scheduled commercial flights. The site is currently used for a variety of non-commercial purposes, including:
- General aviation
- Private and corporate jet operations
- VIP and government flights
- Egyptian Air Force and Police aviation activities
- Flight services for the oil and gas industry.

El Nuzha Airport was historically the primary airport for Alexandria for over 60 years. It was originally established as a Royal Air Force (RAF) station (RAF Alexandria/El Nuzha) in the 1930s. After World War II, it was converted into the city's main civilian airport. Its most significant feature was its proximity to the city center, located only 6 km away, making it extremely convenient for travelers. It handled a mix of domestic flights within Egypt and regional international flights to destinations in the Middle East and Europe. Major carriers like EgyptAir, as well as others such as Olympic Air and Saudia, operated regular services from the airport. It was the main air gateway for business and tourism to Alexandria until its closure.

Note on identifiers: Its official ICAO code when active was HEAX, and its IATA code was ALY. The identifiers provided in the query (EG-0078, N/A) are often used in non-official databases or flight simulators to denote its current status as a closed or restricted-use airfield.

There are no concrete or official plans to reopen El Nuzha Airport for scheduled commercial passenger services. Over the past decade, there have been multiple announcements and rumors from Egyptian authorities about its imminent reopening, but these have never materialized. The Egyptian government's long-term aviation strategy for the region is firmly focused on the continued development and expansion of Borg El Arab Airport as the primary international gateway for Alexandria and the Nile Delta. Therefore, it is highly probable that El Nuzha will continue to serve in its current limited capacity for private, corporate, and government use for the foreseeable future.