The low-cost airline Wizz Air will temporarily suspend two routes from Vienna-Schwechat in December 2023. These are the Egyptian destinations Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh, which are actually considered to be in high demand during the cold season.
Wizz Air will fly between Vienna and Hurghada for the last time on December 3, 2023. The route will then be paused until mid-January 2024. The resumption is announced for January 18, 2024. From this date onwards, Hurghada will again be served from Vienna on Thursday and Sunday, subject to any changes.
Sharm El Sheikh will be served from the Austrian capital for the last time on December 2, 2023. The resumption is announced for January 16, 2024. Subject to changes, flights will then resume on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Although both destinations are popular holiday destinations, in Egypt the package tour business via organizers is much more represented than self-arranged individual trips. The war in Israel is also leaving its mark on neighboring Egypt, as some destinations on the Sinai Peninsula are struggling with a sharp drop in booking numbers. This is particularly pronounced in the run-down tourist town of Taba, which is located in the immediate border with Israel (city of Eilat). We hear from organizers and hotel operators that they are almost no longer receiving new bookings and are faced with cancellation requests.
Sharm El Sheikh is located approximately 225 kilometers by road from Eilat (Israel). Hurghada is located on the other side of the bay entrance from the Egyptian city. The distance to Israel is much greater, which is why Hurghada is significantly less affected by holidaymakers' safety concerns.
Taba does not have Wizz Air in its route network, but the nearby airports Eilat-Ramon and Aqaba do. The one in Israel is currently not served for security reasons and due to lack of demand. Due to a lack of booking numbers, the Jordanian airport opposite has also been temporarily removed from the program. Competitor Ryanair is also currently suspending Aqaba and Eilat-Ramon. Taba isn't in the program anyway.