By Air in Cairo

• Sights
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Travel Tips
• Features

By Air

Cairo International Airport (CAI) (Heliopolis. 02/244-8977 for Terminal 1; 02/291-4255 for Terminal 2) lies on the northeastern outskirts of Heliopolis, about 30 km (19 mi) from downtown Cairo. Terminal 2, known more familiarly as the new airport, services international European and American airlines, both arrivals and departures; Terminal 1, the old airport, serves domestic flights and regional carriers.

Most flights from North America stop over in Europe en route to Cairo. EgyptAir flies nonstop to Cairo from New York. From other parts of the United States, flights connect either through New York or a European city: Lufthansa, for example, flies from San Francisco to Frankfurt and on to Cairo. Most major European cities have nonstop flights to Cairo.

Flying time from New York to Cairo is 10 hours. The total time in the air on the San Francisco-Frankfurt-Cairo flight is about 17 hours. Direct flights from London take about five hours. Travel time to Cairo from Sydney, with connections in Frankfurt, is about 20 hours; from Johannesburg, 19 hours.

Carriers

EgyptAir (02/392-2835) flies daily from Cairo to Sharm al-Sheikh, Hurghada, Luxor, and Aswan, with flights twice weekly to Abu Simbel and a weekly flight to Taba. Flights to Alexandria leave daily except Saturday and Tuesday.

From the U.S.

British Air (800/247-9297).

EgyptAir (212/315-0900 in New York; 310/670-8496 in Los Angeles).

El Al (800/223-6700).

KLM/Northwest (800/361-5073).

Lufthansa (800/645-3880).

From the U.K.

British Air (0345/222-1111 in London).

EgyptAir (020/7734-2343 in London).

Lufthansa (0345/73-7747).

Northwest (0990/56-1000).

From Australia

Ansett (13-1300).

British Air (02/9258-3399).

Egypt Air (02/9232-6677).

Lufthansa (029/3673-7747 in Melbourne).

Qantas (13-1313).

From New Zealand

Qantas (09/357-8900).

Singapore Airlines (09/303-2129 or 3/366-8099).

Transfers Between the Airport and Town

By Taxi

Taxis and limousines are the best option for getting to and from the airport. The minute you exit the arrival hall, you will be inundated with offers from taxi drivers. This will be your first opportunity to test out your bargaining skills -- you should be able to bring the price down to around £e40. Keep in mind that most taxis do not use their fare meters. If you are too tired to go through the hassle, opt for one of the limousine companies located in the arrival hall for a flat fee of £e60 to £e80.

Cairo taxis are black and white or black and yellow; limousines are black, usually old-model Mercedes sedans. Going to the airport from the city is much easier, because you can have your hotel arrange your transportation.