Sphinx International Airport

As part of the effort to alleviate congestion at Cairo International Airport and to connect the world to the cradle of civilizations, one of the most prominent vital projects has emerged: Sphinx International Airport.

This airport has helped open wide and modern horizons for air transport and tourism, combining a strategic location with modern technology. Through this article, we will learn more details about this airport.

Sphinx International Airport was inaugurated in 2023, featuring many modern facilities that make it one of the most important airports for supporting tourism and travel. Through it, tourists can easily visit archaeological sites without needing to pass through Cairo first.

It also offers an opportunity for one-day trips from Hurghada to the pyramids. Sphinx International Airport is located 45 km from the Cairo-Alexandria desert road, and the distance between it and the Giza pyramids is approximately 12 kilometers. As for downtown Cairo, it is at a distance of 45 km.

Sphinx International Airport was established for several purposes, which include the following:

• Serving the areas west of Cairo, including the Haram area, 6th of October City, Sheikh Zayed, Beni Suef, and Giza.
• Alleviating the burden on Cairo International Airport, which receives millions of visitors annually. With the new airport, it will become less crowded, especially with one-day trips.
• It helps facilitate access to archaeological sites, especially since it is close to them, such as the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Giza pyramids.
• It connects international airports with governorates such as Aswan, Hurghada, and Luxor.

Many airlines depart from Sphinx International Airport, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Wizz Air UK
• Flydubai
• Wizz Air
• Air Arabia
• SalamAir
• easyJet
• Pegasus Airlines
• Wizz Air Malta

As for destinations, they include Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, London, Germany, Jordan, Sharm El Sheikh, and Hurghada.

Sphinx International Airport offers a variety of services to help you have a more comfortable and safe journey.

These services include:

Meet and Greet Services

An assistant will welcome you to help you complete all travel procedures, in addition to a porter who will accompany you to carry and weigh your bags. After completing all procedures, they will guide you to the airport lounge to rest until your departure time.

Sphinx International Airport Limousine Services

This service provides you with relaxation for a safe, comfortable, and timely transfer. You can choose from the available vehicles, whether a limousine, a regular car, a van, or a bus, ensuring you avoid traffic and save time.

Access to the VIP Lounge

Entering this lounge gives you a high level of comfort, characterized by luxury. This service requires payment of some fees. The maximum waiting time is about 3 hours, with many services provided such as internet, television, and beverages.

Shops

The airport has many shops that operate from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. It is also possible to buy souvenirs, handmade products, and some stores offer local SIM cards. So, you can shop while waiting for your flight.

Food and Beverages

The airport does not have a full-service restaurant, but there are many cafes and kiosks that offer the best light meals and delicious hot drinks, in addition to machines that provide cold drinks, all with the best taste.

Sphinx International Airport contains many modern areas and technological equipment, including the following:

• Power stations and central cooling units.
• Administration and service buildings.
• An artesian well.
• Warehouses and a garage.
• A fire station unit.
• A meteorological station.
• A sewage treatment plant.
• An EgyptAir maintenance station.
• 6 check-in counters.
• 4 passport control counters.
• A prayer room.
• Green spaces.
• Two information kiosks.
• Airline offices.
• Shops.
• A bank.
• An information counter.
• Baggage carousels.
• An EgyptAir cafeteria.
• Tourism company offices.
• 7 X-ray machines for baggage screening.
• 7 passenger screening gates.
• Data display screens.
• Television screens.
• Central and internal public address systems.

You can travel from Sphinx Airport by taxi or any of the ride-sharing apps like Uber, Careem, and inDrive, or by tourist buses. All of this can be arranged through Egypt Excursions, which is the best tourism company for getting the best trip and enjoying the most important archaeological sites.

Sphinx International Airport offers the best waiting lounges, some of which are available for business class with many services including seating areas, beverages, Wi-Fi, screens, etc. In addition, another building is available for a fee, with services including light snacks and Wi-Fi.

Besides that, some local and international restaurants and cafes are available, including Costa Coffee, Burger King, Cinnabon, and Starbucks. So you can get the most delicious Egyptian food from sandwiches, grills, and Egyptian koshary. Prices are usually comparable to shops and restaurants outside.

Certain procedures are followed at Sphinx International Airport, starting with heading to the passport section to check the passport. After presenting the visa and getting the entry stamp, you then proceed to collect your luggage.

After that, you head to customs, which is quickly finished as long as you do not have anything that needs to be declared. There are two lanes, red and green. You can pass through the green if you have nothing to declare, or you can pass through the red if you need a customs inspection.

Then the departure process begins, starting with exiting, security screening, checking the flight ticket and passport, then moving to the counter to complete the procedures. Finally, you get the boarding pass to check your luggage, then your passport is stamped for exit, and then you proceed to the final screening.

You can stay near Sphinx International Airport, where there are many luxury hotels that offer many services, including:

• Villa One, 6th of October City: The distance between it and the airport is 6.8 km, and you can enjoy the best recreational opportunities.
• Triumph Luxury Hotel: Suitable for transit travelers and contains many services, including internal restaurants.
• Hilton Pyramids Golf: Characterized by its quiet location, spacious rooms, and many available services.

Sphinx International Airport relieves pressure on Cairo Airport by receiving many flights, including domestic flights to Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh. It also serves the residents of Sheikh Zayed, 6th of October, and Giza. In addition, it is close to the Grand Egyptian Museum and the three pyramids, so tourists can head to these sites quickly and without taking a long time, which leads to an ideal distribution of travel traffic.

Despite the efficiency of Sphinx International Airport, it faces some challenges, which include the following:

• It is located west of Cairo and is thus far from the city center areas.
• It lacks many different restaurants and cafes, but it is still under development.
• Its proximity to the desert area makes it more exposed to dust storms.
• It is not yet widely famous, as some travelers do not know it has started operating.

Conclusion

Sphinx International Airport aims to relieve the burden on Cairo International Airport and provide access through it to many tourist places. It is distinguished by its strategic location and is an integral part of Egypt’s infrastructure development.

Which airlines use Sphinx Airport?

Many airlines use Sphinx Airport, including major and additional ones like Flynas, Air Cairo, Jazeera Airways, and Edelweiss Air.

Is Sphinx Airport the same as Cairo Airport?

No, Sphinx Airport is independent of Cairo Airport and is located on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road. It helps to relieve the burden on Cairo Airport.

Which country is Sphinx International Airport?

This airport is located in Egypt, in the Giza area on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road.

Is Sphinx Airport busy?

This airport is not as busy as Cairo Airport due to the limited number of flights. It is expected that the number of flights and passengers will increase in the future, but for now, it is new.

What airlines fly to Sphinx, Egypt?

There are many domestic and international airlines, which include Flydubai, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, Air Cairo, and Flynas. Additional airlines include Norwegian and Condor.

Is Nile Air or Egyptair better?

Each depends on the traveler’s needs and requirements. It is worth mentioning that EgyptAir offers comprehensive services, while Nile Air offers relatively lower costs.

What is the hardest airport in the world?

One of the most difficult airports is Lukla Airport in Nepal, which is characterized by its short runway and location among the mountains, making it difficult to take off and land easily.