The history of Port Said Airport and RAF El Gamil

Port Said Airport serves the city of Port Said, Egypt, at the north end of the Suez Canal. In 2011, the airport served 36,962 passengers. The facility is seen to be vital for the coastal city and to sustain its industrial expansion plans.

The airport was previously known as RAF El Gamil, a Royal Air Force station operational during the Second World War. During this period, various units were stationed here, including No. 33 Squadron RAF with the Hawker Hurricane I and No. 73 Squadron RAF with the Hurricane I, IIB and IIC along with the Curtiss Tomahawk IIB. Other units included the No. 80 Squadron RAF with the Supermarine Spitfire VC, and the No. 89 Squadron RAF with the Bristol Beaufighter IF.

After being handed over to Egyptian authorities, El Gamil Airfield was attacked by the British Armed Forces during November 1956 as part of Operation Telescope during the Suez Crisis. It was then seized by the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment and French forces, and briefly hosted No. 215 Wing RAF. The airport underwent a modernisation program with a partial inauguration in February 2011. There are currently no scheduled services to and from the airport.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata