Flights to Egypt — Booking Tips, Airlines & Best Deals

Egypt has three main international airport clusters: Cairo for the Nile Valley and pyramids, the Red Sea coast airports for beach and diving holidays, and Luxor for direct access to Upper Egypt. Choosing the right arrival airport depends on whether your trip centres on ancient sites, the coast, or a combination.

Major International Airports

Cairo International Airport (CAI)

Egypt’s primary international hub and the busiest airport in the country. Three terminals — Terminal 2 handles EgyptAir and Star Alliance partners, Terminal 1 serves most European and Gulf carriers, Terminal 3 is the newest and handles overflow international traffic.

Cairo is the only practical arrival point if you are visiting the Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum, or travelling south to Luxor and Aswan by train or domestic flight.

Flight times: approximately 5 hours from London, 10.5 hours from New York, 4 hours from Dubai, 3.5 hours from Istanbul, 4.5 hours from Frankfurt.

Getting to the city centre: The airport is approximately 20 km northeast of central Cairo. A metered taxi to downtown or Zamalek costs approximately EGP 250–400 (around USD $5–8 as of 2026). Uber and Careem operate from the airport and are typically EGP 150–300 to central areas. Cairo Metro Line 3 connects the airport to Attaba and other central stations — EGP 10, approximately 45 minutes to downtown.

Hurghada International Airport (HRG)

The main Red Sea coast airport, serving the resort strip between El Gouna and Safaga. Handles a large volume of direct charter and scheduled flights from Europe, particularly from the UK, Germany, Poland, and Scandinavia.

Flight times: approximately 5.5 hours from London, 4.5 hours from Frankfurt, 3 hours from Istanbul.

Getting to your resort: Most package tourists have transfers arranged. Independent travellers can take a taxi from outside arrivals — approximately EGP 150–300 to central Hurghada hotels, EGP 300–500 to El Gouna.

Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport (SSH)

Serves the southern Sinai peninsula and the resort area around Naama Bay. Direct flights from the UK (easyJet, Wizz Air, TUI seasonally), Germany, Italy, and Eastern Europe. Also well-connected from Gulf cities.

Flight times: approximately 5.5 hours from London, 2 hours from Cairo, 3 hours from Dubai.

Getting to Naama Bay or the Old Market: Taxi approximately EGP 100–200 from the airport (it is close — about 15 km). Pre-booked hotel transfers are common.

Luxor International Airport (LXR)

A smaller airport with limited but growing international service. Some European carriers (TUI, Condor, charter operators) fly direct to Luxor seasonally, mainly from November to March. Domestic flights from Cairo are frequent — approximately 1 hour with EgyptAir or Nile Air.

Flying direct to Luxor saves the 10-hour train journey or 1-hour domestic connection from Cairo, but schedules are seasonal. Check availability before building your itinerary around a direct Luxor arrival.

Airlines Serving Egypt

From the UK

EgyptAir flies London Heathrow to Cairo daily — the most direct option at approximately 5 hours. As the national carrier and a Star Alliance member, connections from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, and Sharm are straightforward.

British Airways also flies London Heathrow to Cairo. Fares are typically GBP 250–500 return in economy as of 2026.

easyJet flies to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh from London Gatwick, Manchester, and other UK airports — mostly seasonal, with the strongest schedule from October to April.

Wizz Air serves Hurghada and Sharm from London Luton and other European bases. Often the cheapest option, though baggage fees add up.

TUI operates charter flights to Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, and Luxor from multiple UK airports during winter season.

From Europe

Lufthansa (Frankfurt to Cairo), Air France (Paris CDG to Cairo), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul to Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm), Condor (Frankfurt to Hurghada, Luxor), and numerous charter operators serve the Red Sea coast from Germany, Poland, and Scandinavia.

Gulf Carriers

Emirates (Dubai to Cairo), Qatar Airways (Doha to Cairo), Etihad (Abu Dhabi to Cairo), and flydubai (Dubai to multiple Egyptian airports). These are useful for connections from Asia, Australia, and North America.

From North America

No non-stop flights operate from the US or Canada to Egypt as of 2026. The most common routings are via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Dubai (Emirates), Doha (Qatar Airways), or London (EgyptAir/BA). Total journey time from New York is approximately 13–16 hours with one stop.

When to Book for the Best Deals

Peak season (October–April): This is Egypt’s main tourist window — comfortable temperatures in the Nile Valley and good Red Sea conditions. Book 8–12 weeks ahead, or 3–4 months ahead for December–January travel.

Cheapest months: May to September. Extreme heat in Upper Egypt (Luxor regularly exceeds 42 degrees C in summer) reduces demand significantly. Red Sea resorts remain popular with regional tourists but European demand drops. Fares can be 30–50% below peak-season levels.

Shoulder sweet spots: Late September to mid-October and March to early April offer a good balance of reasonable fares and tolerable weather.

Flexible dates: Mid-week departures are consistently cheaper than weekends on the London–Cairo route. Shifting by 2–3 days can save GBP 50–100 on return fares.

Domestic Flights Within Egypt

EgyptAir and Nile Air operate frequent domestic services. Key routes from Cairo:

• Cairo to Luxor: 1 hour, approximately EGP 2,000–4,000 one-way (USD $40–80 as of 2026)
• Cairo to Aswan: 1.5 hours, similar pricing
• Cairo to Hurghada: 1 hour
• Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh: 1 hour

Domestic flights make sense for the Cairo–Luxor leg (the alternative is a 10-hour train or overnight sleeper). For trips combining Cairo with the Red Sea coast, a one-hour domestic flight is far more practical than the 6-hour bus.

Nile Air often undercuts EgyptAir on domestic routes — worth comparing before booking.

Budget Tips

• Combine Cairo and the Red Sea with a cheap domestic flight rather than booking two separate international tickets
• EgyptAir via Cairo is often cheaper than charter flights to Red Sea airports when you factor in baggage fees on budget carriers
• Gulf carrier connections (Emirates, Qatar) sometimes offer competitive fares from the UK — especially when EgyptAir and BA prices are high during peak season
• Avoid December 20–January 5 — the most expensive window for all routes. Shifting to early December or mid-January saves significantly
• Book Red Sea charters early — popular routes from the UK and Germany fill quickly for the October–March season
• Open-jaw routing (fly into Cairo, out of Hurghada or Luxor, or vice versa) avoids backtracking and is sometimes the same price as a return to Cairo

Getting from Cairo Airport to the City

The most practical options in order of value:

1. Uber or Careem: EGP 150–300 to downtown Cairo or Zamalek. Reliable and air-conditioned.
2. Metro Line 3: EGP 10 to central stations. Functional but crowded during rush hours and not practical with heavy luggage.
3. Airport taxi (metered): EGP 250–400. Use the official taxi rank and ensure the meter is running.
4. Hotel pickup: Most mid-range and upmarket hotels offer airport transfers for USD $15–30. Arrange in advance.

All prices are approximate as of 2026 and subject to change.

Related Guides

• Cairo Airport Transfer
• Getting Around Egypt
• Egypt Visa Guide — apply for your e-visa before you fly
• Cairo Travel Guide — where to go once you land at CAI
• Hurghada Travel Guide — arrivals at HRG for the Red Sea coast
• Sharm el-Sheikh Travel Guide — arrivals at SSH and the Sinai-only entry rules
• Cairo to Luxor Sleeper Train — the alternative to a domestic flight for the Cairo–Luxor leg

Search flights to Egypt across airlines and dates to find the best fare for your route. Travel insurance for Egypt is worth arranging alongside your booking to cover delays and disruptions.

If your flight departs from an EU airport and is significantly delayed or cancelled, you may be entitled to up to €600 in statutory compensation under EC261 — AirHelp checks your eligibility and handles the claim on a no-win-no-fee basis. Compensair is worth checking too if your claim involves a non-EU airline.

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