Travelling to Egypt

Tourists from all across the world can reach Egypt via air. Most major airlines operate in and out of Cairo while Luxor and Hurghada serve as the main centres for international flights operated by EgyptAir. Chartered flights from London to Egypt also fly in to any of these three cities -- Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada.

The three major points of entry are Cairo International Airport, Luxor International Airport and Borg El Arab Airport. The busiest airport among all is the Cairo International Airport, situated 15 km northeast of the CBD area. More than 65 airlines operate to and from this airport, primarily Star Alliance, which is a member of EgyptAir.

Luxor International Airport, located 6 km east of Luxor, is the only airport serving the city. Mostly used by the chartered airlines, this airport connects Egypt to international destinations like Sharjah, Zurich, Amsterdam, Bahrain, Dubai and many more. Several EgyptAir flights to Abu Simbel, Aswan, Cairo and other cities also operate from here.

In Alexandria, the Borg El Arab Airport is located 40 km southwest of the city. Serving all the nearby areas of the Nile Delta as well, this international airport links Egypt to Casablanca, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Istanbul and other international destinations.

Among other airports serving the country are Alexandria Nozha Airport, Aswan International Airport, Hurghada International Airport, Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport and Marsa Alam International Airport. In addition to Luxor International Airport, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh also receive chartered flights.

Main Airports in Egypt
Among the major airports of Egypt, serving international as well as domestic destinations are those in Cairo, Luxor and Alexandria. However, other airports like those in Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh cater to international chartered flights. Taxis, buses, rental cars and hotel limousines are available as transport to and from each of the airports.

Located around 15 km to the northeast of the central business district of the capital city, Cairo International Airport is the busiest. It is the primary hub for airlines operated by Star Alliance, a member of EgyptAir. Used by over 65 airlines, including chartered flights, this airport serves around 16.1 million passengers annually.

The airport has three terminals, amongst which Terminal 2 has been closed for renovation. Terminal 1, locally known as the 'Old Airport' serves both international as well as domestic arrivals. After the closure of Terminal 2 in 2010, all non-Star Alliance airlines serving the airport shifted operations to Terminal 1.  

Opened in 2009, Terminal 3 or the 'New Airport' serves all the international and domestic flights operated by EgyptAir. The facilities at Terminal 3 include public information points, baggage carousels, elevators, moving walkways and escalators. It also has duty-free shops and an international food court.

The main airport serving the city of Luxor is the Luxor International Airport. Located 6 km east of the city, this airport is used by various chartered airlines. Facilities at this airport include a post office, a bank and a Bureau de change.

Among other amenities available at Luxor International Airport are an auto exchange machine (CIB), a VIP lounge and a duty free shop. Along with restaurants and cafeterias, travellers can also find a chemist shop, gift shop, travel agent, tourist help desk, car rental, first aid, baby/parent room and business centre at the airport.

Borg El Arab Airport is another main entry point to Egypt, serving the city of Alexandria and nearby areas of the Nile Delta. Located 40 km southwest of Alexandria, the Borg El Arab Airport has facilities like a duty free shop and a food court at the terminal. Towards the front of the building, there is a parking area that can accommodate up to 350 vehicles.

Airlines in Egypt
Various carriers, both international and domestic, link major Egyptian cities like Cairo and Alexandria to other parts of the world. EgyptAir is the national carrier, operating most flights within as well as to and from the country along with other internal airlines like Orca Air.

Several international carriers like Lufthansa, Emirates, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Thai Airways also connect Egypt to different destinations across the world. Carriers like Brussels Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Air Arabia, Air France, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Oman Air, Condor and many more also operate flights to Egypt.

The major cities connected directly to the country include Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Bahrain, Bangkok, Beijing, Brussels and Dubai. Istanbul, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, London, Milan, Mumbai, Nairobi, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Toronto and other international and domestic destinations are also directly linked to Egypt.