Cairo International Airport

Cairo International Airport is the international airport of Cairo and the busiest airport in Egypt and serves as the primary hub for EgyptAir, EgyptAir Express and Nile Air as well as several other airlines. The airport is located in Heliopolis, to the northeast of the Cairo around 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the business area of the city and has an area of approximately 37 square kilometres (14 sq mi).

The airport’s history began in the 1940’s of the last century when the American Bayn Field air-force base was established five kilometers from Almaza Airport to serve the Allies during the Second World War. The American forces left the base at the end of the war. In 1945, the Civil Aviation Authority took over the base and allocated it to the International Civil Aviation. The Airport was called “King Farouk 1st Airport”. In the meantime, Almaza Airport was dedicated to domestic flights.

In 1955, some studies were done to build a new terminal with a higher capacity; the location of the new terminal was chosen between the two runways, east of Cairo. Construction started in 1957 and was inaugurated on 18th of March 1963. In 1963, Cairo International Airport replaced the old Heliopolis Airport located at the Hike-Step area in the East of Cairo. It consisted of arrival and departure halls, a transit hall and two runways with a capacity of five million passengers a year.

As air transport rates went up to 55% in the 1970’s, a second hall was constructed in 1977-79 and a third added in 1980. In the 1980’s, air transport rates increased again and a second terminal became a necessity. Terminal Building 2 with its two arrival and departure halls, a transit hall and a runway was constructed.

With the increase in Air Traffic Movement and the demand for international service standards, there was a need for developing the airport’s facilities . As a result, Cairo Airport Company started a major renovation and development plan on the transit hall in Terminal 1, which was finished in 2003.

There are other facilities in the airport as: both international and national telephone services, screens and monitors with detailed flight information, telephones for passenger’s inquiries using IVR, banking facilities, rent cars companies, information desks, post office, pharmacy, clinic, disabled traveler facilities, baggage trolleys, and porters are also available.