With over 16 million passengers each year, Cairo International Airport is Africa’s second busiest airport. Egyptair, the national airline, and its Star Alliance members Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, and LOT) provide excellent service. Air France, KLM, and Alitalia are members of the Sky Team, whereas British Airways is a member of Oneworld. Emirates and Etihad are two Gulf carriers. TUI-fly and Jet-Air-Fly are two low-cost airlines.
Arrival
Proceed to the airport and exchange some money; it’s better to do it before travelling through customs. In the arrival halls, ATMs accept all major credit cards. Prior to immigration, visas are accessible at bank counters. They cost USD25 and may be paid in any currency. EGP or USD change is indicated.
For USD50, without including visa costs, the airport provides “Exclusive Services,” which takes you up at the gate, handles all immigration formalities for you, and picks up your bags as you wait in a luxurious arrival lounge. It may be reserved in advance by calling +202 16708
On arrival, visitors are entitled to purchase duty-free items. If you’re visiting European or American pals, they’ll always want your passports so they can acquire more beer and smokes than what’s allowed at customs. The extra amount at the airport is four bottles of alcohol. A customs officer will inspect your passport and provide authorisation for the item at the checkout. You are welcome to be accompanied by the person who picks you up.
There are three terminals at the airport, the most recent of which opened in 2009. All flights to and from the new Terminal 3 are now operated by Egypt-Air and all Star Alliance members. The majority of other airlines land at Terminal 1. Terminal 2 has been closed for renovations since 2010. Every 30 minutes, a free shuttle bus travels between the two terminals and the bus station, 24 hours a day. Taxi drivers attempting to entice you at the airport will try to convince you that the shuttle bus is not free, although the free shuttle bus can be found outside the terminal. It’s on the arrival level, near the end of the bus lane, at Terminal 3. (turn right after the exit). The Shuttle Bus stops at Terminal 1 are in Hall 3 in front of the AirMall and in Hall 1 on the curb side. The bus stops, however, are not well indicated. Due to the driver’s coffee break, you may need to change buses at the bus station.
You may also utilize the new APM (automated people mover), which is free, clean, and quick (as of June 2012). Stations, on the other hand, are not placed inside the terminals. If you’re in Terminal 3, you’ll need to exit via the front entrance and turn right. Turn right and go to the end of the building. Then, depending on your level, you may need to mount or descend a ramp (departure or arrival). Turn left at the end of the ramp and you’ll see the station 50 meters ahead on your left. Although there are no obvious signs at this time, the APM is operational and provides a very simple way to travel between terminals. To get to the station from Terminal 1, go via the main exit and turn left.
The Heliopolis airport is located on the city’s north-eastern outskirts. There are now three hotels available at the airport if you wish to stay the night. Other accommodation alternatives may be found in Heliopolis, which is close by.
Public Transport
Getting to the heart of Cairo may be a hassle. White meter taxis have been accessible at the Terminals since the revolution. The base fare is EGP2.50, with an additional charge of EGP1.25 each kilometer. Persistently use the meter. Accept no set prices, since they are often twice the meter charge. Notify Airport Security or Tourist Police of taxi drivers who refuse to utilize the meter. Refuse to pay the driver’s “ticket” (EGP5 airport parking charge). If you’re heading into central Cairo, you may be able to share a cab with other tourists or backpackers. Another alternative is to utilize the transportation provided by your hotel or hostel, however this is sometimes not gratis.
However, the most simple method is to use one of the various “limousine services.” Pick-up locations are located directly in front of the terminals (curb side). Prices are predetermined based on the location and automobile type. Luxury limousines (Mercedes-Benz E-Class) are classified as Category A, Micro Buses for up to seven people are classified as Category B, and midsized automobiles are classified as Category C. (e.g. Mitsubishi Lancer). Since 2010, Sixt has offered London Taxis as a new Category D service.
For the brave, take a public bus to Midan Tahrir or Midan Ramses from the bus station (buses 111, 356, and 27 should take you there), which is linked to the terminals through the free Shuttle Bus. Consult a local if in doubt, but avoid the infamous (non-air-conditioned) green buses. Occasionally, the bus destination and/or number will be shown in Arabic. If this is the case, be prepared to inquire with the driver or other passengers as to whether the bus will stop at your location. Buses depart every 30 minutes, travel between 60 and 90 minutes, and cost EGP2. To reach the airport from downtown, catch an air-conditioned bus from the bus station immediately north of the Egyptian Museum (under the highway bridge). Finally, there are direct fast buses that run every 30-60 minutes from the airport to Alexandria; however, the buses operate only during daytime hours (04:00-19:30).
As of October 2013, public bus number 400 () operates between the Egyptian Museum and the Ramses Hilton Hotel, departing from the bus terminal (in the middle of the road). Inquire carefully and provide sufficient time for a response. In one instance, the wait time was forty minutes, the transfer to the airport bus station was ninety minutes, and the fare was just one LE. The Arabic term for airport () may come in help when requesting a bus.
Departure
Allow plenty of time to return to the airport for departure (2–3 hours is acceptable) since the roads may be quite crowded. There are no traffic delays on the new airport route, which links the airport to the junction of the Ring Road and Suez Road. The travel to the airport will be swift if you leave on Friday morning or mid-day, since the roads will be desolate as people flock to the mosque for Friday prayers.
From Terminal 3, Egyptair and all Star Alliance carriers (Lufthansa Group, Singapore Airlines, LOT, and others) depart. Saudi Arabian Airlines departs from Hall 2 of Terminal 1. All other airlines depart from Terminal 1 Hall 1 (Sky Team, Oneworld, Emirates, Etihad, and so on).
Before you can go to the ticket counter/check-in area, you must first pass through a security checkpoint. To get past the checkpoint, you must carry a copy of your itinerary or ticket to present the security officers. Just before boarding your plane, you’ll go through a second security checkpoint. Allow plenty of time to get through security and check in, since lines may be lengthy. The airport does not have a baggage claim area.
You may bypass the lines by choosing the Exclusive Service, which will handle all of your check-in and emigration paperwork while you relax in a luxurious lounge and then allows you to skip the initial security check and passport control lines. It may be reserved in advance by calling +202 16708
Duty-free stores and eateries may be found in both terminals. Across from the gates in Terminal 1 are various Egyptair duty-free stores. On the first level, there are more boutiques and designer outlets. On the second level, you’ll find lounges, a tavern, McDonald’s, and coffee shops like Starbucks. A central market and food court are located at Terminal 3. The number of stores on the concourses is minimal. In both terminals, gates open one hour before departure. Seating in front of the gates is quite restricted, so keep an eye on the flight data screens for delays.