Cairo International Airport stands as Egypt’s principal gateway to the world and one of Africa’s busiest aviation hubs. Originally established in the 1940s as a military airfield known as Payne Field during the Second World War, it was transformed into a civil airport in 1963 to serve the growing demands of Egypt’s capital. Over the following decades, it expanded steadily, replacing the earlier Heliopolis Airport, which could no longer accommodate the increasing volume of passengers and cargo. Each subsequent phase of development reflected القاهرة’s evolving position as a crossroads between Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Modernisation projects in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries dramatically reshaped the airport. Terminal 2 underwent extensive renovation and reopened in 2016 with improved capacity and facilities, designed to handle wide‑body aircraft and international routes. Terminal 3, inaugurated in 2009, became the largest of the complex and the central hub for EgyptAir and Star Alliance members. With these upgrades, the entire airport gained a contemporary appearance, enhanced infrastructure, and greater efficiency, ensuring its capability to manage the steady rise in global traffic while meeting international security standards.
Today, Cairo International Airport is not merely a transport facility but an essential component of Egypt’s economy and tourism sector. Handling tens of millions of passengers annually, it serves as the primary link for travellers exploring Egypt’s ancient treasures as well as business visitors heading to Africa’s cultural and political heart. The large cargo facilities bolster trade flows from Africa and the Middle East to Europe. Strategically located in Heliopolis, just northeast of central القاهرة, the airport symbolises both Egypt’s historic aviation legacy and its ambitions as a global connection point for the modern era. What surprised me is that tour guides can enter and welcome you even prior to passport control – never experienced that before.
مطار القاهرة الدولي
Cairo International Airport (CAI)
القاهرة
Egypt
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