Cairo International Airport

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Cairo International Airport
مطار القاهرة الدولي

IATA: CAI – ICAO: HECA
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Cairo Airport Authority
Serves Cairo, Egypt
Elevation AMSL 382 ft / 116 m
Coordinates 30°07′19″N 031°24′20″E / 30.12194, 31.40556
Website www.cairo-airport.com
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05R/23L 3,999 13,120 Asphalt
05L/23R 3,301 10,830 Asphalt
16/34 3,178 10,427 Asphalt
4000 13,124 asphalt
Sources: Airport website[1] and DAFIF[2][3]

Cairo International Airport (IATA: CAI, ICAO: HECA) (Arabic: مطار القاهرة الدولي) is the major airport in Egypt and the primary hub for the national carrier Egypt Air. The airport is located to the north-east of the city around 15km from the business area of the city. The airport is administered by the Egyptian Holding Co. for Airports and Air Navigation (EHCAAN), which controls four companies including: Cairo Airport Co., Egyptian Airports Co., National Air Navigation Services and Aviation Information Technology and the Cairo Airport Authority (CAA), which is the regulatory body. Cairo International is known as the second busiest in Africa after Johannesburg International Airport in South Africa. The airport has two terminals and a third is under construction and due to be completed by mid-2008. There are also four runways and a single cargo terminal (the fourth runway was opened in early 2008). Runway 05R/23L is 3,300m long, 05L/23R has a length of 4,000m and 16/34 is 3,180m (all of the runways are 60m wide). The fourth runway, south of the existing airfield is 4,000m by 65m and suitable for the Airbus A380. The airport has the potential to be a major hub with its positioning between Africa, the Middle East and Europe (especially with facilities for the A380). In 2007, the airport served 12,577,524 passengers (+16.7% vs. 2006).

Contents

[edit] Terminals

[edit] Terminal 1

Terminal 1 was built in 1945. During World War II, the US built Payne Field Air Force Base to serve the Allied Forces, rather than take over the existing Almaza Airport, located 5 km away. 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 terminal facilities include Departure Hall 1, International Hall 3, and Hall 4 for Private & 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. Terminal 1 is commonly known as the "Old Airport," although its facilities were recently given a complete overhaul and are newer than those of Terminal 2, which is still known as the "New Airport."

Terminal 1 is used by EgyptAir for its domestic and international flights. It is also used by El Al, several airlines from the Arab world, and an increasing number of other foreign carriers, such as Air France, which transferred operations from Terminal 2 in 2006.

The CAA has also 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 of this, a new shopping mall called the AirMall has been built near Terminal 1's New International Arrival Hall 3.

[edit] Terminal 2

Terminal 2 was inaugurated in 1986. It serves primarily European and Far Eastern airlines, airlines from the Gulf region, and sub-Saharan Africa. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, all flights to the US and Canada, including those operated by EgyptAir, were transferred to Terminal 2. EgyptAir has since returned its North American services to Terminal 1 following the completion of renovations.

The arrival and departure halls are located side by side on the same level. There are duty free shops in the airport in the transit area and a cafeteria in the departure area. There is also a new restaurant that opened in 2005 in the small area separating the arrival and departure halls.

The architecture of the terminal building limits the possibility of expansion. There is significant congestion when more than 3 flights check in simultaneously, or more than 2 planes arrive at the same time. The terminal itself has 7 boarding gates. Capacity rarely reaches that maximum.

[edit] Terminal 3

Given projected growth, and the limited ability to expand Terminal 2, the CAA has begun construction of Terminal 3, which is currently scheduled to open in 2008. It will be located adjacent to Terminal 2, and the two terminals will be connected by a bridge. Access roads will be redesigned, and the parking lots will be relocated.

The terminal was originally projected to open by the end of 2007. It was postponed until March 2008 in late 2007; however, interior construction on the building is ongoing and the terminal may not be operational until the third quarter of 2008.

The master plan includes:

  • A 164,000 m² three-level main building with mezzanines housing arrivals/departures halls, basement facilities, baggage handling, workshops, electro-mechanical area and retail outlets.
  • Two piers of extendible capacity and gates facilities serving domestic and international traffic, handled through contact and remote. The main building and the piers are connected by concourses. Two of the gates will be equipped to handle the Airbus A380 aircraft.
  • Land side works including bridges and fly-over serving the traffic to and from the terminal building, surface car park areas, a new access road connecting the airport with the Autostrad road|Autostrad (Cairo ring road) and upgrading the access road.
  • A luxury 350-room five-star hotel, to open as Le Méridien Cairo Airport will open at the beginning of 2010 as part of the terminal (with a direct connection to the building).

Upon completion of this terminal, Cairo International Airport will double its airport capacity, enabling it to provide passengers and airlines with state-of-the art services and facilities.

[edit] Airlines and destinations

The following airlines have scheduled services from Cairo International Airport as of June 2008:

[edit] Cargo airlines

[edit] Transportation

A free shuttle bus links the two terminals, 3 km (1.9 miles) apart. The bus runs 24 hours a day and departs approximately every 30 minutes.

The airport is connected to the city by two roads, the main access road is the Salah Salem Road that goes through Heliopolis from downtown and another secondary road, the Autostrad road.

A newly established shuttle bus service reaches to several destinations such as Heliopolis, Nasr City, Downtown Cairo, Giza, Mohandesin, Zamalek, Maadi and Haram (Pyramids area).

Taxis are available at any time, and are operated on a flat fee basis. Official Cairo taxis are predominantly black and white.

Limousine services are offered by 19 different companies.

The Airport Bus Service (both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned) operates from Terminal 1. There are several bus stop at Tahrir Square, downtown Cairo, Mohandesin, and along Pyramids Road in Giza.

Entering the airport requires payment of a toll of 5 EGP for 3 hours for private cars and cabs.

[edit] Future plans

There are plans to expand the Cairo Metro to serve the airport. The new line, which is in an advanced stage of planning, will link the airport at one end, and Mohandessin (in Giza), at the other. It is expected to be operational by 2010.

[edit] Disasters

Cairo International Airport has been the origination or termination for several flights that did not reach their final destination properly:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Cairo International Airport, official website
  2. ^ Airport information for HECA at World Aero Data. Source: DAFIF.
  3. ^ Airport information for CAI / HECA at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF.

[edit] External links