Getting There
Updated Guide to Air Travel to Egypt:
Egypt, a land of ancient wonders and modern marvels, is well-connected by air, with several international and domestic airports serving travelers. Here’s an updated guide for 2024 on getting to Egypt by plane:
Cairo International Airport (CAI):
Main Gateway: CAI remains Egypt’s primary international hub.
Airlines: EgyptAir dominates domestically, using CAI as its hub. Major airlines like Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways, among others, offer regular flights.
Direct Flights: EgyptAir provides direct flights to major European cities and a daily direct flight to New York.
Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH):
Global Connectivity: SSH continues to receive international flights from airlines like British Airways, Royal Jordanian, and Swiss International, along with budget carriers.
Access to Sinai: It’s a prime entry point to Sinai destinations like Dahab and St. Catherine.
Alexandria’s Airports:
Burg al Arab (HBE): Modern facilities, served by airlines like EgyptAir, Emirates, and Lufthansa. Transport is available to Alexandria city center.
Al Nozha (ALY): Closer to the city but with a shorter runway, mainly used by EgyptAir.
Luxor International Airport (LXR):
Gateway to Ancient Egypt: Primarily served by EgyptAir and international charter carriers. A quick alternative to the long train ride from Cairo.
Aswan al Daraw Airport (ASW):
Direct Flights Advised: Used by EgyptAir. Check for direct flights to avoid layovers in Luxor.
Abu Simbel Airport (ABS):
Tourist Flights: Mainly for EgyptAir tourist flights to the Abu Simbel temples.
Hurghada International Airport (HRG):
Red Sea Access: Serves nearby resorts and is connected to Europe by budget airlines and EgyptAir. A faster alternative to bus travel from Cairo.
Marsa Alam Airport (RMF):
Increasing Popularity: EgyptAir flies here, with expected increases in flight frequency due to rising demand.
Marsa Matruh Airport (MUH):
Seasonal Flights: EgyptAir offers limited summer flights to this destination.
Taba International Airport (TCP):
European Charters: Mainly served by direct charter flights from Europe.
Kharga Airport (UVL):
Limited Service: One EgyptAir flight per week. Booking might require contacting the EgyptAir office in Kharga directly.
Budget Travel to Cairo:
Low-Cost Options: European budget airlines like Transavia offer economical flights to Egypt, particularly to Sharm El Sheikh and Luxor.
Discover Affordable Flights to Cairo
Europe’s budget-friendly carriers have made a name for themselves by offering cost-effective journeys to Egypt. Expect full flights with limited legroom but at prices that are hard to beat. For example, the Netherlands’ own Transavia (tel. 20/4060406; https://transavia.com/) has carved out a niche by providing low-cost air travel to Sharm El Sheikh and Luxor from Amsterdam, attracting travelers away from the bigger airlines with its attractive fares.
