Yes, Luxor International Airport (LXR) has designated smoking areas for passengers. There are marked smoking areas inside the single terminal so you do not need to step outside, a smoking cabin in the airside Pearl Lounge, and outdoor smoking at the terminal entrance before security.
Luxor International Airport is the main gateway to Upper Egypt’s antiquities — Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple and the Nile cruise circuit — about 6 km east of the city. It handles a mix of international charter, scheduled and domestic EgyptAir traffic, with strong seasonal tourist peaks in the cooler months.
Smoking Policy at Luxor Airport
Egypt’s Law No. 52/1981, amended by Law No. 85/2002, restricts smoking in enclosed public spaces, but airport facilities fall under the Civil Aviation Authority, which requires designated smoking areas. Egypt permits indoor smoking areas inside airport terminals, unlike most of Europe. Smoking outside the marked areas is prohibited and can draw fines of roughly EGP 50 to EGP 500.
Airport Layout
Luxor operates a single main passenger terminal handling both international and domestic flights through one departures concourse and arrivals hall. Because everything funnels through one terminal, the designated smoking provision is concentrated there rather than split across buildings.
Smoking Areas
Departures (Airside)
After security, the terminal has designated smoking areas within the departures concourse, so passengers do not have to leave the building for a cigarette. The Pearl Lounge (International) has a dedicated smoking cabin; it is reached by taking the lift to the 1st floor on the left-hand side after the final X-ray machines, and is a comfortable option on longer waits for eligible or paying passengers.
Outside Terminals
Designated outdoor smoking is available at the terminal entrance before security and on the arrivals forecourt, fitted with ashtrays. Luxor’s hot, dry desert climate makes outdoor smoking comfortable in winter, but summer afternoons are extremely hot, so the indoor areas are preferable from May to September.
E-Cigarettes and Vaping
E-cigarettes are legal in Egypt and widely available. They may be used in the same designated smoking areas as conventional cigarettes at Luxor Airport, but not in the open terminal areas. Vape stock at this airport is limited, so bring your own supplies.
Tips for Smokers at Luxor Airport
- The terminal has indoor designated areas — you do not need to step back outside after security
- For a comfortable wait, the Pearl Lounge smoking cabin is up the lift to the 1st floor, left, past the final X-ray
- Look for the smoking pictogram signage rather than asking general staff for directions
- Tour-group departures cluster in the early morning and evening — expect the areas to be busiest then
- Summer heat is intense; use the indoor areas rather than the entrance in midday months
- Local cigarettes are inexpensive; duty-free is airside in the departures concourse
Summary
| Area | Smoking Allowed | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departures concourse (post-security) | Yes | Indoor areas | Designated areas within the terminal |
| Pearl Lounge (airside) | Yes | Indoor cabin | 1st floor by lift, after final X-ray |
| Terminal entrance / arrivals | Yes | Outdoor | Before security and on arrival |
| General terminal areas | No | — | Fines for violations |