Cairo International Airport (IATA: CAI, ICAO: HECA)

Cairo International Airport (مطار القاهرة الدولي)
Maṭār El Qāhira El Dawli

Cairo International Airport (IATA: CAI, ICAO: HECA) or in Arabic: مطار القاهرة الدولي: Maṭār El Qāhira El Dawli is the principal international airport of Cairo and the largest and busiest airport in Egypt. It serves as the primary hub for Egyptair and Nile Air as well as several other airlines. The airport is located in Heliopolis, to the northeast of Cairo around fifteen kilometres (eight nautical miles) from the business area of the city and has an area of approximately 37 km2 (14 sq mi). It is the busiest airport in Africa and one of the busiest airports in the Middle East in terms of total passengers.

Cairo International Airport History

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) built John Payne Field Air Force Base to serve the Allied Forces, rather than take over the existing Almaza Airport located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away. Payne Field was a major Air Transport Command air cargo and passenger hub, connecting westwards through Benghazi Airport (during the war known as Soluch Airfield) to Algiers airport on the North African route to Dakar Airport, in French West Africa.

Other locations that transport routes were flown were RAF Habbaniya, Iraq on the Cairo – Karachi, India route, Lydda Airport, British Palestine, Jeddah, Arabia, on the Central African route to Roberts Field, Liberia (1941–1943), and later after the war ended, Athens, Greece and on to destinations in Europe.

When American forces left the base at the end of the war, the Civil Aviation Authority took over the facility and began using it for international civil aviation. In 1963, Cairo International Airport replaced the old Heliopolis Airport, which had been located at the Hike-Step area in the east of Cairo.

The airport is administered by the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, which controls the Cairo Airport Company, the Egyptian Airports Company, National Air Navigation Services and Aviation Information Technology, and the Cairo Airport Authority. In 2004, Fraport AG won the management contract to run the airport for eight years, with options to extend the contract twice in one-year increments.

Cairo International Airport Terminals

Cairo International Airport Terminal 1

Terminal 1 is the oldest terminal currently in operation, having been inaugurated on 18 March 1963 by President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Over the years, the terminal witnessed several expansion projects, a second hall was constructed between 1977–79 and a third one was completed in 1980. In the early 2000s, work commenced on the renovation of the ground floor, along with the addition of an expanded departure hall containing a mezzanine floor, thereby allowing more natural light into the terminal. All phases of the project were completed by the end of 2003.

Terminal 1 was originally used by Egyptair and several Middle Eastern airlines. However, an increasing number of other foreign carriers, such as Air France and KLM transferred operations from Terminal 2 in 2006. In May 2009, Egyptair moved all its operations to the new Terminal 3 (along with all Star Alliance airlines serving the airport).

The terminal facilities include Departure Hall 1, International Hall 3, and Hall 4 for private and non-commercial aircraft services. As part of the recent upgrading and facility improvement scheme, the CAA demolished the old Hall 3, previously used for domestic arrivals and departures, to reconstruct a new hall to be used for international arrivals.

Departures and arrivals are with all airlines departing from Terminal 1 Hall 1, with the exception of Saudia. Most international airlines arrive in Hall 3. Arrival Hall serves international and domestic arrivals.

The CAC has inaugurated the "Airport City Concept" to provide an array of services and entertainment facilities to travelers, airport visitors, as well as the general public. The first phase, a new shopping mall called the 'AirMall' has been built near Terminal 1's International Arrival Hall 3.

As of 2009, the facade of the terminal was being upgraded. Terminal 1 has 12 gates.

Cairo International Airport Hall 4

Terminal 1, Hall 4 is dedicated to private jet and executive jet services. Even though it is referred to as a 'Hall' under Terminal 1 it is operated independently from the commercial passenger terminal.

Smart Aviation Company has been based at the building since 2007, it moved to a new executive FBO in 2010 adjacent to Hall 4.

Cairo International Airport (مطار القاهرة الدولي) Overview
Maṭār El Qāhira El Dawli

Cairo International Airport IATA: CAIICAO: HECA
Cairo International Airport Airport Type: Public
Cairo International Airport Owner: Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air
Cairo International Airport Operator: Cairo Airport Company
Cairo International Airport Serves: Greater Cairo
Cairo International Airport Location: Heliopolis, Cairo
Cairo International Airport Opened: 1963
Cairo International Airport Hub For:
Egyptair
Nile Air
Air Cairo
Air Arabia Egypt
Cairo International Airport Elevation AMSL: 382 ft / 116 m
Cairo International Airport Coordinates: 30°07′19″N 31°24′20″E
Cairo International Airport Website: cairo-airport.com
Cairo International Airport Runways Direction:
Length    Surface   m ft
05L/23R    3,300   10,830 Asphalt
05C/23C    4,000   13,120 Asphalt
05R/23L    4,000   13,123 Asphalt
Cairo International Airport Passengers: 14,711,500