If you’re planning to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, your journey might begin by booking a flight to Sphinx International Airport, which has been specifically designed to serve the Giza area, home to many ancient monuments as well as the GEM.

Located at km 45 on the Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road, the airport mainly serves small and medium-sized aircraft (Code D) carrying an average of 150 passengers.

The story of the airport began in the same year that Egypt decided to accelerate the construction of the GEM. Both projects began around the same time, with the airport launching trial operations in 2018 and welcoming its first regular flights in 2019.

The airport’s prime location has made it a convenient option for travelers in recent months — even before the museum’s official opening — according to industry sources who highlighted its importance as a key travel hub.

Passenger traffic has been rising steadily, particularly as development work continues to expand the airport’s capacity ahead of the museum’s opening, our sources said. On the eve of the grand opening, Sphinx International Airport emerged as a preferred gateway for travelers, recording a notable milestone: passenger numbers exceeding 1 mn since the start of the year through last Friday—up 21% Y-o-Y.

Currently, 22 airlines operate through Sphinx Airport, supported by seven agencies, with an average of 95 weekly flights during the 2024/2025 winter season, compared to 75 flights last winter—a 27% increase. The airport now serves 25 international and domestic destinations, solidifying its position as a growing travel and tourism hub west of Cairo.

Airlines Operating at Sphinx International Airport:

  • Air Cairo: Operates flights to Queen Alia International Airport (Jordan), Aswan, King Abdulaziz International Airport (Saudi Arabia), Luxor, and Sharm El Sheikh.
  • Condor Airlines: Flies to Frankfurt, Germany.
  • EasyJet: Offers flights to London Luton Airport, UK.
  • Flynas: Operates flights to King Abdulaziz and King Khalid International Airports in Saudi Arabia.
  • FlyDubai: Offers flights to Dubai International Airport.
  • Jazeera Airways: Flies to Kuwait International Airport.
  • Nile Air: Operates seasonal flights to Milan Malpensa Airport.
  • Wizz Air: Offers flights from Abu Dhabi, Budapest, London Luton, Milan Malpensa, and Rome Fiumicino airports.

MODERN FACILITIES

Sphinx Airport passenger terminal includes 26 passenger service counters, two self-service kiosks, three baggage carousels, ten passport control counters, seven departure gates, and six arrival gates, in addition to a VIP Lounge and multiple commercial and service areas. The terminal accommodates over 300 passengers per hour. It also houses customs and immigration zones, restaurants, lounges, a VIP hall, and a duty-free area.

The airport is equipped with the latest security and automatic landing systems, as well as a modern air traffic control tower equipped with cutting-edge air navigation technology. The airport is fully accessible, featuring comprehensive facilities for people with disabilities. It has two runways connected by taxiways and a 44-meter air traffic control tower.

Sphinx International Airport also meets all international safety standards, featuring state-of-the-art surveillance cameras, X-ray screening systems, manual inspection procedures, automatic fire alarm systems, and access control systems.

The airport features nine aircraft parking stands, a parking lot for 400 cars and 20 buses, and a mosque along with a power station, a central cooling plant, and a food court.

EXPANSION PLANS

The airport currently handles 1.2 mn passengers per year, up from 900k before the latest upgrades. The number of scheduled flights to increase as expansions continue and tourism activity grows following the museum’s opening, sources expect..Future development plans include additional runways and terminal expansions that will raise the airport’s capacity to 5 mn passengers annually within the next five years.

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