Flights from the US to Cairo: ultimate guide!
Everything you need to know about flying to Cairo from the US, like:
• How to get to Egypt
• How long is the flight to Egypt
• Direct flight to Cairo from the US
• Airlines that fly to Cairo
• Flight deals, how to find cheap flights to Cairo, and when to book
• What to bring on your flight from the US to Egypt
• Entry visa and process at Cairo International Airport
• Your frequently asked questions about flights to Cairo
Let’s get started!
Note: this post was originally published on in October 2020, and updated on Sep 5, 2024.
How to get to Egypt from the USA
Egypt is in northern Africa, quite a ways away from the United States. In general, travelers from most US cities will need to have at least one stopover in Europe or the Middle East since there are not many direct flights to Cairo from the USA, but travelers from the East Coast, specifically Washington, D.C. and New York City, have the option to fly nonstop on EgyptAir, direct to Egypt.
How long is the flight to Egypt
Flight times and itineraries vary from the United States to Cairo, but in general, it takes me between 18 - 24 hours total, including stops and layovers. However, a direct flight between the United States and Cairo can get a traveler there in under 11 hours, so it depends.
Direct flight to Cairo from USA
On my direct EgyptAir flight from NYC to Cairo!
Currently, EgyptAir is the only airline that flies direct (nonstop) to Cairo from the USA, and direct flights on EgyptAir are available at:
1. JFK Airport in New York City nonstop to Cairo
2. EWR Newark Airport in New Jersey nonstop to Cairo
3. IAD Dulles Airport outside of Washington, D.C. nonstop to Cairo
JFK nonstop to CAI
NYC to Cairo direct flights operate on EgyptAir every day.
Flying from New York's JFK Airport gives the most options for flying nonstop from New York to Egypt, with flights leaving JFK direct to Cairo every single day, and flights coming back from Egypt to New York also available, every day of the week.
Fly direct JFK to Cairo every day on EgyptAir, although the tickets are much more expensive than having at least one layover somewhere.
NYC to Cairo direct flights depart around 12:45pm in the afternoon, and land in Egypt very early the following morning (due to the time zone difference), arriving around 6:00am.
Direct flights from NYC to Cairo are usually much more expensive than flying with other airlines that have a stop or layover along the way, so you pay a premium in order to fly direct to Cairo from the USA. However, for travelers who live close to JFK Airport, and want the fastest flight to Egypt, it can be worth it.
EWR (Newark) direct to CAI
Example flight: direct from EWR to CAI
Flights from Newark to Cairo were only added a couple years ago, and Newark Airport is very close to JFK, so these flights serve a similar geographic area.
Direct flights out of EWR - CAI run every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so travelers do not have as many options as flying out of JFK. The same days are available to fly from Egypt to the USA - only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are you able to go nonstop from Cairo to Newark.
Just like out of JFK, these flights are often significantly more expensive than flying with a layover or two, so you have to decide if the extra expense is worth getting to Egypt sooner, without any stops. The flight from Newark to Egypt takes between 10-11 hours, so that's definiltey faster than stopping somewhere in Europe or the Middle East on the way.
IAD (Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C.) direct to Cairo
Nonstop flight from Washington direct to Cairo
Flying IAD to CAI is best for folks who live in the Washington, D.C. area, who don't mind spending more on the flight (just like JFK and EWR, these flights are more expensive than options to Egypt that include a layover), and who want a direct flight from the US to Cairo.
Like Newark, nonstop flights out of DC to Cairo are only on three days of the week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday), with the return flights departing Egypt direct to DC on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Should I fly nonstop to Cairo from the US on EgyptAir?
While these flights expedite the trip, taking under 11 hours, it is not practical for Americans traveling from other parts of the country (like California, Miami, Chicago, etc.), for folks who want to fly a different airline due to status (EgyptAir is part of Star Alliance, just like the U.S.-based carrier United), or for the cost-conscious (these flights are often a couple hundred dollars more expensive than other options). I have flown the JFK - CAI flight on EgyptAir once and enjoyed getting to Cairo in record time from the U.S., and I also flew the direct flight from Washington, D.C. to Cairo to see what it was like, but the fact that I had to make a connection from my home airport (MSP in the Twin Cities, Minnesota) flying nonstop from these airports did not save me all that much time.
US Airlines that fly to Cairo
Flying to Egypt from Minneapolis on Delta Airlines, with a layover in Europe where I will switch to one of their international partners, AirFrance.
Aside from EgyptAir, Delta, United, and American Airlines all have options to fly to Cairo through their partner airlines in Europe, the Middle East, or Africa; none of these airlines fly to Cairo independently and they do not offer any non-stop options. Taking a one, two, or three-stop (yikes) flight through one of these airlines will add anywhere from 4-18 hours (or potentially more) to the trip than the non-stop option through EgyptAir, but the cost is universally cheaper. I have seen flights from MSP as cheap as $780 round-trip through one of these U.S. airlines; I usually expect to pay between $800-$1200 round-trip for a flight to Cairo from a major U.S. city.
Tip: often flights to Cairo will be much cheaper from a major airport in the Midwest or East Coast, like Chicago or New York. It never hurts to check prices from multiple cities, and to see if you can book an “open-jaw” itinerary, flying to a major airport on a cheap ticket (or even an award ticket), and then flying to Cairo round-trip on a more affordable ticket from the larger airport.
As for time, be prepared for a long journey, often with multiple stops. Since my home airport, MSP, is a Delta hub (and I love Delta!) I often fly SkyTeam on my way to Cairo. Itineraries I have flown include:
MSP —> CDG (Paris) —> CAI
MSP —> FCO (Rome) —> CAI
MSP —> AMS (Amsterdam) —> CAI
MSP —> JFK —> LHR (London) —> CAI
The fastest itinerary I have had with connections to Cairo is by flying non-stop to Rome from Minneapolis (about 12 hours and then a layover of a couple hours) and then flying non-stop from Rome to Cairo (about 3 hours). The longest itinerary I have done included stopping for a layover in a U.S. airport and stopping for a whopping 8 hour layover in Paris, which I used to do a little sightseeing in the city and enjoy a coffee before continuing on to Cairo.
And sometimes, the best flight deals are the ones that have the most layovers. I commonly see flight options that include one stop in the USA and one stop abroad, which are often a couple hundred dollars less than just having one stop.
International Airlines that fly to Cairo
Flying AirFrance, CDG to CAI nonstop. Before this flight, I had a nonstop flight on Delta from MSP to Paris.
In addition to US-based carriers, there are lots of international carriers that fly from the US to Cairo. Common carriers are:
Qatar, which flies from many cities in the US to Cairo, with a layover in Doha (DOH) along the way.
Emirates, a common option from cities like Chicago, which stops in Dubai (DXB) before flying to Cairo
Turkish Airlines, very common when flying from Miami to Cairo, which has a layover in Istanbul (IST) before landing in CAI
Saudia, which stops in Jeddah (JED) or Riyadh (RUH) on the way to Egypt
LOT (Poland's national carrier), another common option out of Chicago, which includes a layover in Warsaw (WAW)
Lufthansa, present at lots of US Airports, stopping in major German cities like Frankfurt (FRA) before continuing on to Egypt
Skyteam partners which are common in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Detroit, and other hub cities, including airlines like Air France, which always stops in Paris (CDG), KLM, stopping in Amsterdam (AMS), or ITA Airways, laying over in Rome (FCO), before continuing onward and landing in Cairo
Tip: pack lightly (the baggage claim at Cairo Airport can be a headache—carryons are recommended), and then if you have a long layover, drop your luggage off at an airport storage locker and head into whatever city you are stuck in to stretch your legs and take your mind off of the long journey and all the waiting. Even with a layover as short as 5 hours, if you hustle, you can grab public transit into the city and catch a sight or two or enjoy a quick bite to eat.
When to book flights to Cairo
Generally, I find that the best time to book flights to Cairo is between 6-9 months before a trip, although cheaper prices can sometimes be found by booking closer to a trip (like 2-3 months out), or further out, although flights cannot be booked more than 12 months away.
I recommend looking at flight prices right away after you decide you would like to visit Egypt, and making a note of the flight costs. Then, you can check every once in a while to see how the flight prices change over time. If you are booking from a major city like Chicago or New York, and notice flight prices between $500-$600 round trip, that's a great time to book. If you are traveling from elsewhere, like Seattle, Minneapolis, or Charlotte, and see flight prices between $800-$900, that's a great time to book. Otherwise, you can always wait to see if prices come down. I generally never have to spend more than $1200 round-trip for my flights from the US to Egypt.
Find Cheap Flights to Cairo
I talk about this more on this blog post, but in general, the best way to find cheap flights to Cairo is to use the Google Flights tool to search for all the different options from your city to Egypt, using the calendar feature to find the best prices on the best days.
You can also consider an "open jaw" itineary, where you book two separate plane tickets, flying from your home to another city where rates are cheaper. One time, I even flew to Europe, where I got a super budget flight over to Cairo that landed at Sphinx International Airport - you can watch more on this YouTube video:
What to bring on flight from the US to Cairo
If you want a full packing list, check out this blog post, but right now, I will focus specifically on what to bring on the airplane. Some things may seem like second nature, while others may be a surprise, even to seasoned travelers.
Passport: required to travel internationally—your passport will be needed constantly when you are in transit, so keep it handy, not buried in your luggage. Make sure it doesn't expire within 6 months of the end of your trip, and make sure you have at least two blank visa pages.
Paper copies of boarding documents: this may not seem necessary, but these can come in handy to keep with your passport and have ready to go. Once or twice at the Cairo Airport I have been asked to show paper copies of boarding documents, and having them on hand saves the hassle of opening up an electronic copy and convincing an official of its validity.
A pen: essential for filling out the arrival card (discussed in more detail below) and any other paperwork required. I have forgotten to bring a pen in my carryon so many times, and have had to borrow pens from others, or wait in line to use one of the very few public pens at the Cairo Airport.
An empty water bottle: tap water in Egypt does not taste great, and it is not recommended for folks who have not spent time living in Egypt to drink the water. Trust me, your body is not going to like it very much. Bringing an empty bottle or two and making sure to fill up at the last airport before Cairo can help ensure you will be fully hydrated before the journey from the airport to your place of stay in Egypt
Chargers for electronics: Most airports and planes will have options to charge your devices, and I recommended you arrive to the Cairo Airport with devices that are fully charged. Sometimes you will need your devices to show electronic copies of paperwork, use WiFi, or make a phone call. Outlets are not easy to find in Cairo Airport, so coming fully charged will help make your transition through the airport much smoother
Cash money (in USD): Having USD in cash will give you a leg up in two areas:
Egypt requires U.S. Americans to buy a visa (more info on that below) in order to enter Egypt, and this is done easily at the airport upon arrival, for $25 (at the time of writing). The only catch is that the visa must be paid for in cash. Bring exact change if you can.
The same window where you buy your $25 entry visa is also the window where you can exchange foreign currency for Egyptian Pounds (abbreviated as LE). Having cash in Egypt is essential, so while you are purchasing your visa, getting some cash from the same teller is a great way to save some time.
Tip: The Arabic word for Egyptian Pounds is guinea (pronounced like the “Guinea” in “Guinea pig”). Sometimes Egyptians will also refer to their currency with the word masry (pronounced “MOSS-ree”, literally meaning, “Egyptian”). Aside from buying your visa with USD, paying for a hotel in USD, and potentially purchasing goods from the duty free shop in USD, you can use Egyptian Pounds for everything else, even if someone says they would like you to pay with USD.
Arrival at Cairo International Airport and Egypt Entry Visa
After (potentially) numerous layovers and countless hours on airplanes and in airports, you have made it to Cairo! Here is a step-by-step guide of what to expect (and what you will see) when you arrive at Cairo Airport’s international terminal.
Tip: As mentioned above, lines and waiting your turn are not universal social concepts, and in Egypt often the person who gets helped is the one who pushes their way to the front (or walks around and goes directly to the front) of a queue and makes direct eye contact with the gatekeeper. This does not happen in every line at the airport, but if a situation is more undefined (like a random backup because two flights landed at the same time) then folks will often try to be the next person helped instead of waiting in a single-file line. Either try not to let it phase you and find your spot in whatever resembles a line, or try your hand at being pushy—just don’t be physically aggressive and push people out of the way!
Once you exit your plane, you will move toward the international arrival hall, and you will see several bank teller windows. These are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. So anytime you land at any airport in Egypt (not just Cairo), you will be able to purchase your Egypt entry visa, exchange foreign currency into Egyptian Pounds, and get everything you need in order to enter Egypt.
These bank teller windows are the places mentioned before where you can both purchase your entry visa for $25 and also exchange USD for Egyptian Pounds. Once you have the visa sticker, DO NOT put it into your passport! A border security officer will do this for you.
Go to any one of the bank tellers like this one. Just pick the one with the shortest line.
Sign showing the Egypt Entry Visa upon arrival
Egypt visa upon arrival in hand (again, DO NOT put it in your passport!), you are ready to head to a border control officer.
During your flight, you will hopefully have received and filled out (are you happy you brought your pen on the flight?) an arrival card. If not, you will grab one off one of the blue counters and fill it out before getting in line.
Pretty straightforward—do not worry about providing your exact address when in Egypt—just putting down the name of the first hotel you will stay at will suffice. Only worry about checking boxes or filling out portions that are in English. The back side only needs to be filled out if you have minors with you.
The line for the border security agents is followed like a normal line would be at an airport in the U.S. After a quick conversation with an official (who will speak limited English), you will have the visa stuck in your passport, and will be ready to head to baggage claim.
Passport control line at Cairo International Airport
Baggage claim at Cairo Airport is like at any airport, even if it takes a long time.
After passing through passport control and grabbing your bags, you have the option to stop at a duty free shop and pick up some alcohol, cigarettes, or whatever else you may want, and either in the baggage claim area or outside of it (it depends on which terminal you are in) you can purchase a local Egypt SIM card. After all of this, you are ready to leave the airport and begin your Cairo adventure! Follow the flow of people to the baggage scanners, go into the “nothing to declare” line (if this applies to you), and head out to the arrival hall to your transportation from the airport to your place of stay in Egypt (addressed in a later post).
If you want to see more on Cairo Airport departures and arrivals, check out my YouTube video.
Flying into Sphinx International Airport (SPX) instead of CAI? I have a YouTube video on that, too!
Frequently asked questions about flights to Cairo
What is the flight time to Egypt?
The answer to the question, how long is a flight to Egypt, depends on if you're flying nonstop or if you have a layover somwhere. Direct flights from the US to Cairo will get you there in under 11 hours, but other flights have a layover, and can take anywhere from 16 to over 24 hours, depending on the exact itinerary.
How far is Egypt from the USA?
Depending on where you're flying from, but it's almost 6,000 miles from the East Coast of the United States over to Cairo, and more from the West Coast. That's a long trip!
How many Cairo airports are there?
There are currently two airports in Cairo that are serving international flights: Cairo International Airport (CAI), the main airport in Cairo, and also the much-smaller Sphinx International Airport (SPX), on the other side of the city, past the Giza Pyramids. There are not any flights from the USA to SPX Airport at this time, and there are not options to fly from the USA to SPX when booking a ticket on a US-based airline. However, you can fly over to Europe or the Middle East, and then take a separate, direct flight to Sphinx International Airport, like I did in this YouTube video.
What is the fastest flight to Egypt from the USA?
The fastest flight to Egypt from the USA is one of the nonstop EgyptAir services from New York (EWR or JFK) or Dulles (IAD) in Washington, D.C., which gets you to Egypt in under 11 hours.
Can you fly straight to Egypt from California, or other places on the West Coast?
No, at this time, there aren't any direct flights from anywhere in the US other than New York and Washington, D.C.
Does American Airlines fly to Cairo, Egypt?
Yes, American Airlines, and all other US-based carriers, fly to Cairo with one of their international partners. So you won't take an AA flight all the way from the US to Cairo, you'll stop somewhere and switch airlines at some point, taking one of AA's partner airlines the rest of the way to Egypt.
As you will hear many times from the countless Egyptians who will greet you authentically and warmly during your trip, “Welcome to Egypt!”
I would love to hear your thoughts and questions! Drop a comment with:
-Any specific questions you have about air travel to Egypt
-Your tips for surviving on a long haul flight, with multiple layovers
-Have you flown to Egypt? What was your experience like, and what airlines did you take?
