Getting There

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.