Terminal 1

All international flights at HRG run out of Terminal 1

Every Condor, easyJet, Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air, TUI fly Deutschland, and British Airways departure at Hurghada uses Terminal 1, along with charter carriers like Corendon Airlines and SunExpress. The building technically has only 2 main gate areas, but flights are called to numbered stands such as 37–42 for UK routes. It handles all international and charter traffic, so queues spike in the morning and late evening bank of departures.

Departure process: multiple checks, manual steps, slow flow

Plan on at least 2.5–3 hours before departure here, and more in peak winter charter season. Regulars complain about “five separate passport checks, two security checks” before boarding, with one FlyerTalk user stuck almost 4 hours in the pre-security mess. Check-in is still manual for many airlines, with printed boarding cards and paper immigration cards to fill for each passenger, including kids.

Before security: bottlenecks start at the terminal doors

Lines often start outside the Terminal 1 departures hall doors, especially when multiple easyJet, Pegasus Airlines, and Transavia flights check in at once. Security screening happens only after this first document check, so the crowd tends to bunch at the entrance. Keep your passport and booking confirmation ready the moment you reach the curb, and don’t bury them in checked luggage or deep in a backpack.

Check-in, immigration, then more checks

Inside the hall, you move from airline counters to immigration booths and then through at least one more security checkpoint. Passports are checked repeatedly at desks, at the escalator, and again during the final exit process toward the gates. Expect staff to inspect printed boarding passes closely for UK gates 37–42 and for Russian and Kazakh flights on Aeroflot and Air Astana.

Gates and layout: UK flights at the far end

Reports place UK-bound departures at gates 37–42, described as the far end of Terminal 1, so allow 10–15 minutes from central duty free to the holding area. With only 2 primary gate zones serving many airlines, holding pens get packed when British Airways, easyJet, and Norwegian Air Shuttle departures overlap. Boarding often starts earlier than the time on the card, so keep one ear on the gate announcements rather than just the screens.

Food options: fast food and coffee dominate

After security you’ll see Costa Coffee and Cafe Ritazza near the main concourse, useful for a quick espresso before early Turkish Airlines or Swiss flights. McDonald’s and Burger King sit closer to the food court cluster, with prices higher than downtown Hurghada; think big-mac-level pricing in euros or dollars. There’s also Cinnabon, a generic “Food Court Restaurant,” a Snack Bar, and a Pizzeria offering slices and basic pasta plates.

What to order vs. skip

For a short hop to Istanbul on Pegasus Airlines or a Wizz Air flight to Europe, most people grab a coffee and pastry at Costa or a Cinnabon roll and call it a day. Burgers at McDonald’s and Burger King are reported as standard franchise quality but with longer waits during the 2–4 a.m. charter rush. The generic Food Court Restaurant and Snack Bar lean on pre-made sandwiches and reheated items, so don’t expect anything beyond basic airport fuel.

Lounges: Pearl Lounge and VIP Lounge

Terminal 1 hosts the Pearl Lounge and a generic VIP Lounge after security, typically used by airlines like Turkish Airlines, Swiss, and Edelweiss Air, plus some card programs. Expect standard cold snacks, simple hot dishes, and soft drinks, with limited alcohol outside peak western European departure times. Don’t waste a lounge visit on a 35-minute connection; the walk to far gates like 37–42 can eat 10 minutes each way.

Shopping: duty free and last-minute gifts

Right after security, Egypt Air Duty Free and a generic Duty Free Shop stock spirits, cigarettes, and cosmetics at tourist-resort prices. Smaller outlets include a Perfume & Cosmetics store, Jewelry Boutique, Chocolate Shop, Toy Shop, Luggage & Bags, and a Pharmacy for basic meds before a 5-hour flight to Europe. Local Handicrafts and a Souvenir Shop carry magnets, scarves, and papyrus prints, but prices often sit higher than in Hurghada town.

What regulars do and one final tip

Frequent HRG flyers keep passport and boarding pass in hand from the terminal doors through to the gate, because of the repeated checks. They build a real buffer: 3 hours before departure, especially for UK flights leaving from gates 37–42 at the far end of Terminal 1. One tip: finish check-in, clear both security checkpoints, then buy water and snacks at the Convenience Shop near duty free so you’re not stuck at a remote gate with nothing but a crowded snack counter and limited seating.