EgyptAir will launch direct flights between Cairo International Airport and Birmingham Airport from 27 October 2026, Birmingham Airport confirmed this week. The route operates twice weekly — on Tuesdays and Saturdays — and represents the first direct scheduled service between Birmingham and Egypt.
The new service reduces the journey time for travellers from the UK Midlands considerably. Previously, visitors from Birmingham to Egypt had to connect through London Heathrow, London Gatwick, or European hubs, adding three to five hours to the typical door-to-door journey. The direct service cuts flying time to approximately five hours.
Who Benefits
Birmingham Airport serves a large catchment area across the English Midlands, covering the West Midlands, East Midlands, and parts of the North. EgyptAir is targeting both leisure travellers visiting Egypt for the first time and the substantial British-Egyptian diaspora community based in and around Birmingham.
Flights connect to EgyptAir’s Cairo hub, which offers onward connections to destinations across North Africa and the Middle East. The Birmingham–Cairo route therefore also serves as a gateway for travellers connecting onward from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan, Sharm El Sheikh, and Hurghada.
What Travellers Should Know
The route launches on the winter schedule from 27 October. Birmingham Airport has confirmed that full check-in, baggage services, and EgyptAir’s standard service offering will be operational from day one. Fares are available now through EgyptAir’s direct booking channels and major travel platforms.
UK citizens travelling to Egypt on tourist visas can obtain an e-visa in advance, or purchase a visa on arrival at Cairo International Airport. Both options are straightforward, though e-visa processing in advance is recommended for smoother airport transit.
For travellers planning their Egypt itinerary, our Egypt tours guide covers the essential experiences from the Pyramids at Giza to Luxor’s Valley of the Kings. If you’re flying into Cairo and need transport into the city, the Cairo airport transfer guide explains the main ground transfer options.
The EgyptAir service marks a broader push by the airline to expand its UK regional presence beyond London. Whether routes from other UK regional airports follow will depend in part on how well the Birmingham service performs in its first season.