Top 10 Airports In Egypt: Key Travel Hubs For International And Domestic Flights

An aerial view of Egyptian city showing tall buildings, blue waters and a bridge

Egypt is a treasure trove for tourists due to its cultural and archaeological riches. The country offers opportunities for adventure seekers with activities such as windsurfing, diving, and snorkelling along the coast of the Red Sea. Airports in Egypt play a key role in tourism as air travel is the most preferred mode of travel for tourists. The country boasts of 26 airports situated in its various cities, acting as hubs for domestic and international flights. These airports in Egypt are not just transit points but also gateways to the natural and historic wonders that Egypt has to offer.

Top 10 Airports In Egypt

There are abundant transport services from the airports in Egypt to popular tourist destinations in Egypt. Here are the top ten airports:

1. Cairo International Airport

Cairo airport showing the entrance road, the sign and palm trees on the sides

Photo: Ad Meskens / Wikimedia Commons

Built in 1963, the Cairo International Airport is Egypt’s biggest and Africa’s second busiest airport. It has three terminals for passenger traffic and one terminal for managing cargo. While Terminal 1 was inaugurated in 1963, Terminals 2 and 3 were opened in 1986 and 2009. Situated 15km northeast of Cairo in Heliopolis, this airport stretches for 37 square km and manages around 26 million passengers every year. Key facilities include duty-free shops, hotels such as Novotel and Le Meridien, restaurants and well-equipped lounges.

Location: Oruba Road, Heliopolis, Cairo Egypt

2. Luxor International Airport

A long distance view of the Luxor airport runway showing a plane about to take off with sand around

Photo: Jorge Láscar / Wikimedia Commons

Located around 6 km from Luxor city, the Luxor airport is a main hub for Egypt Air cargo and other charter airlines. Through its 8 gates, this airport can accommodate around 8 million people annually. Due to its proximity to the Valley of the Kings and River Nile, it attracts tourists throughout the year. The Luxor airport operates as both a military and public facility. Facilities at this airport include restaurants, shops, banks, FOREX services, VIP lounges and travel agencies.

Location: Luxor, Qina Egypt0

3. Aswan International Airport

Image of Aswan International Airport - an arrival gate with travelers entering

Photo: Keith / Wikimedia Commons

Established in 1956 and later upgraded in 1992 and 1999, the Aswan Airport operates 15 airlines, serving around one million passengers yearly. Also called Daraw Airport, the Aswan airport is located 16km southwest of Aswan. This airport has flights that travel to more than 15 countries. If you wish to visit the ruins of Abu Simbel or cruise the scenic Nile, Aswan Airport is the ideal gateway for you. The standard amenities in this airport include bazaars, shops, travel agencies, banks, prayer rooms and multi-cuisine restaurants.

Location: Sahary, Aswan Egypt

4. Hurghada International Airport

A top view of the Hurghada airport showing the runway, flights, buildings and sea in backdrop

Photo: Marc Ryckaert / Wikimedia Commons

Hurghada International Airport is located 5km southwest of El Dahar’s downtown. This is the 2nd busiest airport in Egypt, catering to over 13 million passengers yearly. It has two terminals, and it is in close proximity to several good resorts along the Red Sea coast. It flies to several important destinations, mainly from Europe and travels via more than 40 airlines. There are also charter flights that operate seasonally to cities in West and East Europe. Facilities at this airport include shops, famous restaurant chains such as KFC and McDonald’s and world-class lounges.

Location: Hurghada, Al – Bahr Elhamar Egypt

5. Sharm El Sheikh International Airport

Image of the old terminal (Terminal 2) - Sharm El Sheikh International Airport

Photo: Dmitry Karpezo / Wikimedia Commons

One of the biggest and the third busiest airports in Egypt, situated in Sharm El Sheik, this airport operates both international and domestic flights. It can handle around 10 million passengers per year and is surrounded by stunning vacation resorts. The airport has two terminals fully equipped with essential amenities for entertainment and productivity. This airport operates domestic flights across Egypt and international flights to Europe and the Middle East. Facilities include duty-free shops, currency exchange services, luggage services, disabled people services and several eateries.

Location: Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

6. Marsa Alam International Airport

Image of Airport International Marsa Alam Egypte during day time view

Photo: E v Schoonhoven / Wikimedia Commons

Built in 2003 and a new addition to the list of airports in Egypt’s Red Sea region, this airport is situated in Marsal Alam, close to the Nile Delta. It is about 60 km north of the Marsa Alam city resort. While the Marsa Alam airport has only one terminal, it is capable of handling around 1.2 million passengers annually, mostly from Europe and the Middle East region. It is a single privately owned airport by the MA Al-Kharafi Group of Kuwait in Egypt. Facilities in this airport include a few eateries & cafes, some shops, bank & ATM machines, and lounge access.

Location: Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt

7. Borg El Arab International Airport

The Borg El Arab airport check-in area showing glass windows, people and palm trees

Photo: Abdelrhman 1990 / Wikimedia Commons

This airport is located in the city of Alexandria in Egypt and is the primary entry point to the city and nearby Nile delta region. The Borg El Arab airport was inaugurated in 2009 and became operational in 2010. The airport manages around 1.2 million passengers each year, primarily flying in and out of the Middle East region. Facilities include boat-shaped passenger terminals, VIP lounges, information desks, travel services, duty-free shops and food joints.

Location: Borg El Arab Airport Rd, Borg Al Arab Al Gadida, Alexandria, Egypt

8. Sphinx International Airport

 Image of an airport with an aeroplane amidst sunset with and picturesque views

Photo: Tanathip Rattanatum / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

Sphinx is a new addition to Egypt’s aviation scene. Inaugurated in January 2019, the Sphinx airport along the Cairo Alexandria desert road began its international operations in 2020. With the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, the nearby Sphinx airport is expected to have more visitor footfall in the coming years. Facilities include banks, post offices, ATMs, currency exchange, pharmacies, and food joints.

Location: Kerdasa, Giza, Egypt

9. Assiut Airport

A white and blue plane in the airport runway with an aero bridge connected to it

Photo: JohNNN ZHANG / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

Located in Assiut, Upper Egypt, this is a small airport with basic amenities. It is around 4 hours from Luxor and 4.5 hours from Hurghada. The Assiut airport is close to attractions such as ancient monasteries and archaeological sites like Dakhla Oasis and Meir. Domestic flights with a few international connections operate from this airport. Egypt Air is a common airline that operates here and provides flights to Cairo. FlyEgypt has routes to Jeddah, Amman-Queen Alia, and Kuwait City. There is a small selection of shops and cafes in this airport.

Location: Assuit, Egypt

10. Marsa Matruh Airport

Front view of the Marsa Atruh airport showing a man pushing luggage trolley and other people

Photo: Roland Unger / Wikimedia Commons

Located in Marsa Matruh near the Mediterranean coast, this airport operates a few domestic flights and a few international routes as well. Managed by the government, the airport sees seasonal crowds with a greater tourist influx during summer. The city centre is close to this airport and is accessible via shuttles and taxis. Other nearby attractions include beautiful beaches, the stunning Siwa Oasis, and the WW2 El Alamein battle site.

Location: Marsa Matruh, Egypt

Be it the pyramids, plateaus, monuments, or ancient relics, there is no dearth of places to visit or things to see in the historic country of Egypt. Airports in Egypt provide effortless access to iconic Egyptian destinations such as Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, and Luxor and the breathtaking resorts of the Red Sea such as Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. Book your Egypt trip via TripXL and make every journey via the airports in Egypt an indelible adventure.

Cover Photo: Ahmed Photographer / Wikimedia Commons

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you will need a tourist visa to visit Egypt. You can obtain the visa online or by submitting a physical application to the Egypt embassy.
You can get around cities in Egypt by riding the metro or the microbus, taking a taxi, taking a tuk-tuk, or walking/biking.
You can visit street markets such as Souk al Fustat, Khan Al-Khalili, or Suuq el Ataba to shop in Cairo. Egypt.
The best months to visit Egypt are from October to April when the daytime is pleasant and slightly sunny and the nights are cool.
Some popular Egyptian dishes are falafel, rice-stuffed vegetables, grape leaves, kebabs, and kofta.

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