Cairo International Airport

Cairo International Airport
Name	Cairo International Airport
IATA	CAI
ICAO	HECA
Owner	Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation
Operator	Cairo Airport Company
City-served	Greater Cairo
Location	Heliopolis, Cairo Governorate
Elevation-f	382
Elevation-m	116
Coordinates	30, 07, 19, N...

Cairo International Airport is the primary international aviation gateway to Egypt and a major hub for the Middle East and Africa. Located in the Heliopolis suburb northeast of downtown Cairo, it is the busiest airport in Egypt and the second busiest in Africa after O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The facility serves as the main hub for the national flag carrier EgyptAir and its subsidiary EgyptAir Express, alongside being a focus city for several other regional airlines.

History

The airport's origins trace back to World War II, when it was constructed by the Royal Air Force as a military airfield named RAF Heliopolis. Following the war, the site was transferred to the Egyptian civil authorities. Its first significant passenger terminal, Terminal 1, opened in 1963 to accommodate the jet age and the growth of EgyptAir. A major expansion occurred in the 1980s with the opening of Terminal 2, built to handle the influx of tourists and the increasing operations of foreign carriers like British Airways and Lufthansa. The most transformative development was the inauguration of the massive Terminal 3 in 2009, ahead of the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which significantly increased capacity and modernized facilities to compete with major hubs like Dubai International Airport and Hamad International Airport.

Terminals and facilities

The airport comprises three main passenger terminals. Terminal 1 handles the majority of EgyptAir's international flights alongside several other airlines, including Air France and Delta Air Lines. Terminal 2 primarily serves other international carriers such as Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Turkish Airlines, though its operations are sometimes integrated with Terminal 1. The state-of-the-art Terminal 3 is the largest and is used exclusively by Star Alliance members, including EgyptAir, United Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. Key facilities across the terminals include extensive duty-free shopping operated by DFS Group, multiple business lounges like the EgyptAir Star Alliance Lounge, and dedicated areas for Royal Jet and other VIP services. The airport also features a dedicated cargo terminal managed by the National Aviation Services company.

Airlines and destinations

As the main hub for EgyptAir, the airport connects Cairo to a vast network across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including cities like New York, Toronto, and Beijing. It is a key focus city for Nile Air and Air Arabia Egypt. Major international carriers operating here include the Middle East's "Big Three" – Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways – as well as European giants like British Airways, KLM, and Air France. African connectivity is strong with services from Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Royal Air Maroc. The airport serves over one hundred destinations across more than sixty countries, facilitating significant transit traffic between continents.

Ground transportation

The airport is connected to central Cairo and the surrounding Greater Cairo region by several modes of transport. The most direct link is the Cairo Airport Shuttle Bus system, which provides service to key locations like Tahrir Square and Ramses Railway Station. For rail access, the Cairo Airport Station is located within the Terminal 1 complex and is served by the Egyptian National Railways network, including trains to Alexandria and the Nile Delta. Taxis and app-based ride services like Uber and Careem are widely available. While there is no direct Cairo Metro connection, the Heliopolis metro station is a short taxi ride away, providing access to the Line 3 network.

Accidents and incidents

The airport has been the site of several notable aviation incidents. In 1965, Pakistan International Airlines Flight 705, a Boeing 720, crashed on approach during a sandstorm, resulting in significant loss of life. A major terrorist incident occurred in 1985 when Abu Nidal operatives attacked the EgyptAir ticket counters, leading to a prolonged standoff with Egyptian security forces. In 2002, a Flash Airlines charter flight originating from the airport crashed into the Red Sea shortly after takeoff, an event investigated by both Egyptian authorities and the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses. More recently, in 2016, EgyptAir Flight 804, an Airbus A320 en route to Cairo from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, crashed into the Mediterranean Sea.

Statistics

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport consistently handled over 20 million passengers annually, making it one of the top twenty busiest airports in Africa by passenger traffic. It typically serves over 150,000 aircraft movements per year. EgyptAir commands the largest market share, accounting for approximately half of all passenger traffic. The busiest international routes historically include flights to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Dubai International Airport, and Heathrow Airport in London. Cargo traffic is also substantial, facilitated by freight operators like Cargolux and FedEx Express, with the airport acting as a major logistics node for the Middle East and North Africa region.

Category:Airports in Egypt Category:Buildings and structures in Cairo Category:Heliopolis, Cairo