Private jet to Cairo

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world, a metropolis of more than 20 million people on both banks of the Nile. Private flights come here for three reasons: business and government meetings in the centre, Heliopolis and the new districts to the east; the pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum beside them; and onward trips to Luxor, Aswan or the Red Sea coast.

Most business jets land at Cairo International in Heliopolis, north-east of the centre, an airport open 24 hours with three long runways. For a day at the pyramids there is a second option, Sphinx International on the Giza side of the city, which works only in daylight. Egypt is outside the EU and Schengen, so each flight needs a landing permit, a handler and passports with visas. As a broker we find the aircraft among European and regional operators, choose the airport that suits the programme and time the landing around the city's traffic.

Send the route, dates, number of passengers and the first address in Cairo or Giza, and we will reply with aircraft, the right airport and the permit timeline.

Why a private flight makes sense here

How long it takes to fly to Cairo

Non-stop flight times in a Citation Latitude midsize jet, from the main price table, taxi, climb and descent included:

The route crosses central Europe, the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean, planned around the airspace warnings in force on the day. From London, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid and Hamburg the distance exceeds the non-stop range of a light jet, which is why the main table starts with a midsize aircraft. From Rome a Citation CJ3 needs 3:27 h, from Athens 2:02 h and from Larnaca only 1:13 h in a Latitude. Jeddah and Riyadh are 1:51-2:24 h away, Dubai 3:11-3:20 h, New York 10:32-10:52 h non-stop in a Falcon 7X or Global 7500.

What a private jet to Cairo costs

Every price is for the whole aircraft, one way, plus handling, landing and permit charges and passenger taxes, with an aircraft available near the departure airport. The flight time refers to the first aircraft in the row.

From the European hubs and Cyprus

Larnaca is the closest hub: a Latitude costs EUR 13,000. From Vienna the same aircraft costs EUR 24,000, from Milan EUR 25,000 and from London EUR 30,000. The Challenger 350 adds a stand-up cabin and flat floor for five hours in the air, at EUR 38,000 from London.

From southern Europe in a light jet

From Italy, Malta, Greece and Istanbul the distance is short enough for a light jet:

To Sphinx for the pyramids

For a daylight landing on the Giza side. The aircraft must also leave before sunset:

From the Gulf and the United States

From the Nile and the Red Sea

Flights inside Egypt are normally reserved for Egyptian operators, so these legs are arranged with a local company and shown separately in the quote:

The price depends on the flight time, where the nearest suitable aircraft is based and the season: from October to April, and above all between Christmas and New Year, demand is highest. An aircraft already in Greece, Cyprus or the Gulf costs less than one positioning from northern Europe. For a visit of two or three days the aircraft can wait in Cairo with the crew in a hotel; for a week two one-way flights are usually cheaper. Egyptian landing, handling and permit charges are listed in the quote. The departure country adds its own tax: France charges its solidarity tax on every passenger, listed in the quote; Italy EUR 200 per passenger from Milan or Rome; Austria EUR 12; Germany, Norway and the UK charge departure taxes. British Air Passenger Duty exempts aircraft below 5.7 t, charges the higher rate on jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats and the standard distance-band rate on all other jets.

Business jet price per flight hour

Heavy Jets from EUR 8,300 / hour

Light Jets from EUR 3,200 / hour

Ultra Long Range Jets from EUR 12,000 / hour

Super Midsize Jets from EUR 6,300 / hour

Very Light Jets from EUR 2,500 / hour

Long Range Jets from EUR 9,800 / hour

Midsize Jets from EUR 4,500 / hour

Turboprops from EUR 2,000 / hour

Sample trips with costs

Cost per passenger

The aircraft is booked as a whole, so the more seats are used, the less each person pays. Rounded one-way figures:

Quick estimate online

Choose the route, the date and the number of passengers; the calculator sends an estimate to your e-mail.

Airports of the capital and Giza

Cairo International (CAI, HECA) is Egypt's main airport, in Heliopolis about 15-25 km from downtown depending on the district. It has three parallel runways, 05L/23R of 3,300 m and 05C/23C and 05R/23L of 4,000 m each, is open 24 hours with a staffed tower and has passport and customs control on site. A slot is required and handling is compulsory; the handler files the slot request with the flight plan. Business aviation is served at Terminal 1 by Aviary and Nile Valley Aviation, and Smart Aviation FBO is another provider. The handler needs crew and passenger details before the aircraft leaves Europe.

Sphinx International (SPX, HESX) lies west of the city on the desert road to Alexandria, next to the Cairo West air base, on the same side as Giza. Its single runway, 16R/34L, is 3,650 m long and it is an airport of entry with customs, with no slot requirement. It is listed as open from sunrise to sunset only, so both landing and take-off must be in daylight. Low-cost airlines and charters also use it, so we confirm the general aviation arrangements and the handler for each date.

Other airports for the trip

These airports serve as alternates or as the start of the next leg. Distances are straight-line from Cairo International:

Aircraft that suit the route

A delegation usually travels with document cases and gifts, a family with luggage for a week on the Nile or the coast; one of the midsize jets in our catalogue carries both comfortably. Tell us the number of bags and any long items in advance.

Want to discuss the airport choice, the permit or the aircraft? Leave your number and we will call you back.

When to go

Weather sets the season more than holidays do:

Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year; during the fasting month offices work shorter hours and city life moves into the evening. The weekend in Egypt is Friday and Saturday, so meetings with institutions are planned from Sunday to Thursday.

From the airport into the city

Traffic decides the transfer more than distance, so we schedule landings outside the morning and afternoon rush hours. Entry to the pyramid plateau and the museum needs tickets, and a licensed guide makes the visit easier for a group; we book the car, guide and tickets with the flight.

Empty Legs between Europe and Egypt

Aircraft that bring clients to Egypt often return north without passengers. Such legs are sold at a large discount. Where they appear:

The schedule belongs to the original booking, so an empty leg fits a flexible date. Send the direction and your dates to empty-legs@jets.flights, and we will offer matching flights.

Travelling with a dog or cat

Entering Egypt with a pet is relatively simple; the return to Europe is the hard part, because Egypt is not on the EU list of countries with simplified rules. The papers for the way home must be ready before you leave:

• Health certificate from a government vet issued shortly before travel, and rabies vaccination given within the last 12 months.
• Microchip: Egypt may not ask for it, but without it the animal cannot return on its EU pet passport.
• Rabies antibody test with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, taken at least 30 days after the vaccination in an approved laboratory.
• If the test is done and recorded in the passport before departure from the EU, there is no waiting period; otherwise the animal may only enter the EU 3 months after the blood sample.
• Dogs travelling on to the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland or Norway need tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before arrival; the UK accepts pets only through approved routes and handlers.

The pet flies in the cabin beside you, but the operator decides and must agree in advance. We send the documents to the handler in Cairo before landing so that the veterinary check is quick. The flight takes four to five hours from most hubs, so bring water and a bowl.

Visas, permits and local rules

Before departure

• Passports valid six months after arrival for all passengers.
• E-visas issued, or US dollars in cash for visas on arrival.
• Passenger names, passport numbers and dates of birth at least 72 hours ahead for the permit.
• First address in Cairo or Giza, to choose between the two airports.
• Landing time agreed: before sunset for Sphinx, outside rush hours for the city.
• Guide, museum tickets and car, if needed.
• Pet documents with the antibody test recorded before departure.
• Company details for the invoice.

Booking process

1. Tell us whether the trip is for meetings in the city, Giza or onward travel; this decides between Cairo International and Sphinx and the time of landing.
2. You receive 2-4 aircraft options with operator, cabin photos and the price for the whole aircraft, plus domestic legs if needed.
3. You confirm and sign the contract with the operator; the operator applies for the landing and overflight permits and the handler books the slot.
4. Each passenger arranges a visa, as an e-visa beforehand or on arrival, and checks passport validity.
5. The handler meets the aircraft and takes passengers through passport and customs control; the car, guide and tickets are ready.

Our team

Charlotte McKinney

Commercial Director

charlotte.m@jets.flights

Henry Richter

Head of Aviation Department and Data Protection Officer

henry.r@jets.flights

Emma Miller

Director of Development

emma.m@jets.flights

Liam Bishop

Senior Aviation Consultant

liam.b@jets.flights

Oliver Davis

Aviation Consultant

oliver.d@jets.flights

Anna Laurent

Aviation Consultant

anna.l@jets.flights

Cairo by private jet: frequent questions

• • How much is a private jet to Cairo?

  • From Athens a Citation CJ3 costs from EUR 12,000 one way and from Rome EUR 16,500. A Citation Latitude costs EUR 24,000 from Vienna and EUR 30,000 from London, always for the whole aircraft. Permit, handling and departure taxes are added in the quote.

• • How quickly can a flight be arranged?

  • Handlers recommend filing the landing permit at least 72 hours ahead. A shorter notice can work, but the request has to start on the day you confirm.

• • Can we land close to the pyramids?

  • Yes, at Sphinx International on the Giza side, but only in daylight. Both landing and departure must be before sunset.

• • Is the main airport open at night?

  • Yes, Cairo International works 24 hours. A slot and a handler are required.

• • Do I need a visa for Egypt?

  • Most European travellers do. You can apply for an e-visa online before the trip or buy a visa on arrival for stays of up to 30 days.

• • Is a light jet enough from London?

  • No, the distance is too long with reserves. A Citation Latitude flies non-stop in about 4:59 h; a light jet needs a fuel stop.

• • Can the same aircraft take us on to Luxor?

  • Usually not, because domestic flights are normally reserved for Egyptian operators. We book that leg with a local company.

• • What is the time difference?

  • Egypt is one hour ahead of Paris and Berlin and two hours ahead of London for most of the year. The clocks change on different dates, so for a few weeks in spring the difference is one hour less.

• • Can I bring my dog or cat?

  • Yes, in the cabin, with a health certificate and a recent rabies vaccination. For the return to the EU the antibody test should be done and recorded before you leave.

• • When is the best time to visit?

  • October to April, when days are warm but not hot. Christmas and New Year are the busiest weeks.

• • Are there Empty Legs from Cairo?

  • Yes, mostly in the winter season and after the holidays, towards central and northern Europe. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights.