Borg El Arab Airport

Borg El Arab Airport
source
Name	Borg El Arab Airport
Iata	HBE
Icao	HEBA
Type	Public / Military
Owner	Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority
Operator	Alexandria Airport Company
City-served	Alexandria
Location	Borg El Arab, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt
Elevation-f	408
Pushpin label	HBE
R1-number	16/34
R1-length-m	3600
R1-surface	Asphalt

Borg El Arab Airport is an international airport serving the city of Alexandria and the surrounding Alexandria Governorate in Egypt. Located near the town of Borg El Arab, it functions as a civil aviation hub and a strategic airfield with both commercial and military roles. The airport supports scheduled passenger services, charter flights, cargo operations and occasional military activity, connecting Alexandria to destinations across Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Overview

Borg El Arab Airport occupies a coastal site southwest of Alexandria Governorate and serves the metropolitan area of Alexandria (city), the historic Port of Alexandria, and adjacent communities such as Borg El Arab (city), Abu Qir, and Ras El Tin Palace. The facility is managed under the aegis of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority and operated by regional airport management entities linked to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Egypt). The airport’s IATA code is HBE and ICAO code HEBA, situating it in international aeronautical publications administered by the International Civil Aviation Organization and coordinated through Air Traffic Control centers in Cairo International Airport and the Sharm El Sheikh International Airport flight information regions.

History

Construction of the airfield was initiated to relieve capacity constraints at El Nouzha Airport and to modernize air services for Alexandria Governorate. The site selection involved coordination among regional planners from the Alexandria Governorate administration, technical advisers from the Egyptian Airports Company, and engineering firms with experience on projects near the Suez Canal and Mediterranean Sea coast. The airport opened for civil operations after infrastructural phases influenced by national civil aviation policies under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Egypt). Over time, the facility has hosted delegations linked to the Arab League summit visits to Alexandria and accommodated special flights related to events at Bibliotheca Alexandrina and sports fixtures at venues used by Al Ittihad Alexandria Club and other local teams.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The airfield features a single primary runway (16/34) constructed to accommodate narrow-body and wide-body aircraft types commonly operated by carriers such as Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, and regional operators. Apron and taxiway layouts follow ICAO Annex 14 standards overseen by Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority inspectors and aviation consultants formerly contracted from firms in France and Germany. Terminal facilities include passenger processing zones with check-in, security screening, and baggage handling systems integrated with ground service providers like Worldwide Flight Services and local handling companies. Airport rescue and firefighting services are equipped in accordance with standards comparable to those at Cairo International Airport and Hurghada International Airport, and the site includes navigational aids compatible with Instrument Landing System procedures and surveillance coordinated with the Egyptian Air Force for joint-use requirements.

Airlines and Destinations

Scheduled carriers operating from the airport have included domestic services connecting to Cairo International Airport and international routes to hubs such as Istanbul Airport, Dubai International Airport, Rome–Fiumicino Airport, Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport, Frankfurt Airport, and seasonal links to destinations in Greece, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom. Charter flights have connected Alexandria to tourist markets serviced by carriers from Poland, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, and Romania. Cargo operators utilize the apron for freight services tied to the Port Said and Alexandria port logistics chains, with freight forwarders and integrators like DHL, FedEx, and regional brokers coordinating consignments.

Ground Transport and Access

Ground access to the airport is provided via the regional road network linking to Alexandria (city) through the Alexandria–Cairo Desert Road corridor, arterial routes serving industrial zones in Borg El Arab (city), and connector roads toward Beheira Governorate. Surface transport options include intercity bus services operated by companies serving Alexandria Governorate, taxi services, and private transfers organized by hotels affiliated with the Egyptian Tourist Authority and coastal resorts. Planning studies have examined rail and rapid transit links analogous to projects connecting Cairo and Alexandria, and discussions have involved stakeholders from the Ministry of Transport (Egypt) and metropolitan authorities responsible for urban mobility improvements.

Statistics and Operations

Passenger throughput has varied with seasonal tourism cycles, national holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and broader economic conditions impacting inbound travel to Egypt. Operational metrics tracked by the airport and reported to the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority include annual passenger numbers, aircraft movements, and cargo tonnage, with fluctuations tied to airline network changes involving carriers like EgyptAir, Air Cairo, TUI Airways, Pegasus Airlines, and low-cost operators expanding regional connectivity. Safety oversight engages regulatory frameworks promulgated by the Civil Aviation Authority and coordination with international audit bodies comparable to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and bilateral aviation authorities from partner states.

Category:Airports in Egypt Category:Buildings and structures in Alexandria Governorate