Credit: Dennis Jarvis on Flickr
Cairo International Airport is the main airport in Egypt. It facilitates a mix of international flights worldwide carriers, as well as domestic flights from Egyptian airlines.
Cairo International Airport is a hub airport for Air Cairo, AlMasria Universal Airlines, EgyptAir, FlyEgypt, Nesma Airlines, Nile Air and Petroleum Air Services.
Cairo Airport opened in 1863, replacing the previous airport in the area, Heliopolis Airport. As the main gateway to Egypt, Cairo International Airport is one of the busiest airports in all of Africa.
The airport code for Cairo Airport is CAI.
Cairo International Airport is located in Heliopolis, which is a suburb located northeast of Cairo. It takes 30–70 minutes to drive to the airport from downtown Cairo, depending on the time of day that you're travelling.
*Only available for international passengers departing from Terminal 2*
*Only available for international passengers departing from Terminal 2*
Did you know that you can buy lounge passes for Cairo Airport with Alternative Airlines? You can purchase them for First Class Lounge at Terminals 1, 2, and 3, Pearl Assist at Terminal 2, and Ahlein - Premium Lounge at Terminal 2.
*Only available for international passengers departing from Terminal 2*
*Only available for international passengers departing from Terminal 3*
Direction | Length (m) | Surface |
---|---|---|
05L/23R | 3,301 | Asphalt |
05C/23C | 3,999 | Asphalt |
05R/23 | 980 | Asphalt |
Until Runway 05R/23 was built in 2013, Runway 05C/23C was the main runway used for air traffic in both directions, with 05L/23R used a secondary runway. Today, air traffic is spread across all three runways.
The airport is split into three different terminals, each named 1–3, as well as an additional seasonal terminal that facilitates only seasonal flight.
Terminal 1 is the oldest terminal building at the airport. The terminal originally facilitated all flights from Egypt Air, as well as flights on various airlines within the Middle East. However, Egypt Air has since moved its flights to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. Today, Terminal 1 is used by a mix of other Egyptian and Middle East airlines.
Terminal 1 also has Hall 4, which is a hall that is dedicated to facilitating flights on executive and private jets.
Terminal 2 opened in 1986 and facilitates flights from Egypt Air and a mix of European, African and Asian airlines. The terminal underwent a massive renovation that was completed in 2016. The renovation saw Terminal 3 updated to the standards of the newer Terminal 3 and connected the two terminals via a bridge.
Terminal 3 opened in 2009 and is the largest terminal in the airport. When it opened Terminal 3 was bigger than both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 combined. The terminal facilitates flights from Egypt Air, as well as other African and European airlines.
The seasonal terminal was built in 2011 to facilitate the majority of seasonal flights that fly to/from the airport. In particular, flights travelling for Hajj.
Here's a list of all airlines that fly to/from Cairo International Airport
AIRLINE | COUNTRY FROM |
---|---|
Aegean Airlines | Greece |
Aeroflot | Russia |
Air Algérie | USA |
Air Arabia | UAE |
Air Cairo | Egypt |
Air France | France |
Air Italy | Italy |
Air Malta | Malta |
Air Serbia | Serbia |
Air Sinai | Belgrade |
Alitalia | Italy |
AlMasria Universal Airlines | Egypt |
Asiana Airlines | China |
Austrian Airlines | Austria |
Azerbaijan Airlines | Azerbaijan |
Badr Airlines | Sudan |
British Airways | UK |
Cairo Aviation | Egypt |
EgyptAir & EgyptAir Express | Egypt |
Emirates | UAE |
Eritrean Airlines | Eritrea |
Ethiopian Airlines | Ethiopia |
Etihad Airways | UAE |
FlyEgypt | Egypt |
Flynas | UAE |
Gulf Air | Bahrain |
Iberia | Spain |
Iraqi Airways | Iraq |
Jazeera Airways | Kuwait |
Jordan Aviation | Jordan |
Kuwait Airways | Kuwait |
Lufthansa | Germany |
Middle East Airlines | Lebanon |
Nesma Airlines | Saudi Arabia |
Nile Air | Egypt |
Oman Air | Oman |
Petroleum Air Services | Egypt |
Royal Air Maroc | Morocco |
Royal Jordanian | Jordan |
Saudia | Saudi Arabia |
Sichuan Airlines | China |
Sudan Airways | Sudan |
Sun Air | Sudan |
SWISS | Switzerland |
Syrian Air | Syria |
Tarco Airlines | Sudan |
TAROM | Denmark, Norway, Sweden |
SunExpress | Turkey |
SWISS | Switzerland |
TAP Air Portugal | Portugal |
TAROM | Sudan |
Tunisair | Tunisia |
Turkish Airlines | Turkey |
Ukraine International Airlines | Ukraine |
Yemenia | Yemen |
Rank | Destination | Airlines |
---|---|---|
1 | Luxor International, Luxor | Air Cairo, AlMasria Universal Airlines, EgyptAir, EgyptAir Express, Nile Air, Petroleum Air Services |
2 | Sharm El Sheikh International, Sharm El Sheikh | Air Cairo, AlMasria Universal Airlines, EgyptAir, EgyptAir Express, FlyEgypt, Nile Air, Petroleum Air Services |
3 | Aswan International, Aswan | Air Cairo, AlMasria Universal Airlines, EgyptAir, EgyptAir Express, Nile Air, Petroleum Air Services |
4 | Hurghada International, Hurghada | Air Cairo, AlMasria Universal Airlines, EgyptAir, EgyptAir Express, FlyEgypt, Nile Air, Petroleum Air Services |
5 | Borg El Arab, Alexandria | EgyptAir, EgyptAir Express |
Rank | Destination | Airlines |
---|---|---|
1 | King Abdulaziz, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Air Cairo, AlMasria Universal, Cairo Aviation, EgyptAir, Flynas, Nesma Airlines, Nile Air, Saudia |
2 | Dubai International, Dubai, UAE | EgyptAir, Emirates |
3 | Kuwait International, Kuwait | AlMasria, EgyptAir, Jazeera Airways, Kuwait, Nile Air |
4 | Medina, Saudi Arabia | EgyptAir, Saudia |
5 | King Khalid International, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | EgyptAir, Flynas, Saudia |
Car rental and parking are both available at the airport.
The airport can be reached off of Airport Road, which can be reached off of Orouba Road.
Bus route 111 runs from downtown Cairo to Cairo International Airport Terminal 1. If you're travelling to a different terminal, you can get a shuttle between each terminal.
Line 3 of the Cairo metro connects the airport with several destinations within Cairo, including Central Cairo, Heliopolis and Giza.
Flagging down a taxi in Cairo is common. Taxis can be identified by their distinct white colour, these taxis run on a meter.
Taxi apps such as Careem and Uber can also be used in Cairo.