Cairo · HECA
CAICairo International Airport · North Africa
Cairo is Africa's largest GA hub by movement volume and the political capital of the Arab world's most populous country.
HECA is operationally large and bureaucratically demanding — ECAA permit processing has tightened over the past three years, and the new Cairo Business Aviation Terminal added GA capacity but also added a coordination layer between EGS and CBAT. LFS bases at CBAT because slot allocation, customs routing, and security clearance for non-Egyptian passengers all require local relationship management.
Operations notes
HECA runs three runways (05L/23R, 05R/23L, 05C/23C) with the long parallel pair handling commercial traffic. Business aviation parks at the Cairo Business Aviation Terminal (CBAT) on the south side with twelve wide-body GA stands and direct landside customs. EGS handles overflow at Terminal 3 GA gates.
Slot coordination is enforced by ECAA Slots Office. Peak windows (06:00–09:00 LT and 18:00–22:00 LT) require pre-filing; ad-hoc inside 24 hours is routinely rejected during peak. LFS pre-files at 72 h.
Egypt e-Visa applies to 70+ nationalities; visa-on-arrival is available for most others. Security clearance for non-Egyptian crew is more demanding than other regional fields — LFS files crew manifest 24 hours prior.
ECAA Slots Office allocates in 10-minute windows. Filing must include STM, registration, type, MTOW, ECAA permit reference, and CBAT/EGS stand request. Late filing rejection rate ~ 20% in peak. LFS pre-files alternates against operational risk.
Egypt e-Visa supports 70+ nationalities; visa-on-arrival as backstop. CBAT customs is faster than EGS — crew clearance sub-8 minutes, passenger clearance 10–15 minutes. Cabotage is restrictive: non-Egyptian aircraft cannot operate domestic revenue legs.
Jet A-1 supplied by Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) via hydrant on GA stands. Pricing tracks Med-region platts with 14% VAT. LFS releases fuel within 60 minutes for prepaid uploads.
Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza, Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah, and Marriott Mena House (Pyramids) are 25–45 minutes from CBAT. LFS arranges airside escort and SUV. Egypt e-Visa permits stays up to 30 days extendable.
Weather & seasonal factors
Hot, dry continental climate. Summer (Jun–Sep) surface temperatures 38–42°C with reduced takeoff performance. Khamsin dust events (Mar–May) occasionally drop RVR below 1,500 m; CAT I ILS on all runways supports recovery. Winter (Dec–Feb) is the operating sweet spot.
Permits & lead times
- Landing: ECAA Egypt landing permit. LFS clears 12–24 hours for repeat operators.
- Overflight: Cairo FIR — ECAA block clearance. Standard 24 h, sensitive overflights may take 48 h.
- Lead time: 24 hours standard; 4 hours AOG/medevac.
Recommended alternates
- HEAXAlexandria Borg El Arab — 130 nm northwest, AOE, 24/7
- HESHSharm El Sheikh — 250 nm east, AOE, all-weather coast
- HEGNHurghada — 250 nm southeast, AOE
Partners on station
Primary desk: LFS Cairo (own desk) — Cairo Business Aviation Terminal
Cairo (HECA) — frequently asked
Should I file into CBAT or EGS Terminal 3 GA?
CBAT is the dedicated business-aviation facility with faster customs. EGS is overflow. LFS files CBAT by default.
How tight is ECAA permit processing now?
Tightened in the past three years. LFS clears 12–24 hours for repeat operators on file; first-time operators should plan 48–72 hours.
Can I do a domestic Egypt leg on a non-Egyptian aircraft?
Only on a private, non-revenue basis. Revenue domestic flights require an Egyptian AOC.
Is Egypt e-Visa sufficient for crew?
Yes for 70+ nationalities. LFS provides crew letter for non-eligible nationalities and clears via visa-on-arrival.
LFS handles HECA 24/7.
Send registration, type, route, dates. We reply with permit lead, slot probability, stand, fuel quote, and crew logistics in one message.