The renovation project was expected to cost US$120 million, which would have included lengthening the main runway (04/22) by an additional 750m and the construction of a new passenger terminal to replace the existing aging facility.

Due to the length of the old runways, the largest aircraft operating into the airport were the Airbus A320-200, Boeing 737-800, and McDonnell Douglas MD-90.

The airport was closed down by December 2011 to implement the expansion project and development and was scheduled to be reopened end of 2014.

Satellite images showed the airports runways to be resurfaced and extended while the terminal site remains unfinished and abandoned.

The airport previously offered services to domestic destinations within Egypt and cities across the Arab world.