Cairo Airport Terminal Guide: Terminal 1, 2 & 3 and How to Reach Each One

Cairo Airport Isn't Just One Terminal

One of the most common mistakes that wastes travelers' time is assuming Cairo International Airport (CAI) has just a single terminal. In reality, there are 3 geographically separate terminals, and the drive between them can take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes depending on traffic.

Knowing the right terminal before your trip saves you at least half an hour of confusion and stress, especially if you have an early morning flight.

Terminal 1 (Terminal 1 Cairo Airport)

Terminal 1 is one of the airport's oldest buildings, used mainly for EgyptAir domestic flights and some regional airlines. The building is relatively small and can get crowded at peak times.

Terminal 2 (Cairo Airport Terminal 2)

Terminal 2 serves a number of foreign airlines and charter flights. After recent renovations it's more spacious than before, but it remains completely separate from Terminal 3.

Terminal 3 (Cairo International Terminal 3)

Terminal 3 is the newest and largest terminal, handling the majority of EgyptAir's international flights and its Star Alliance partners. If you're flying out of Egypt, your flight will most likely depart from here.

The Terminal 3 layout (cairo airport terminal 3 map) shows the building split into arrival and departure halls across two levels, with gates numbered from around B1 through the E-gates — it's best to arrive at least two and a half hours before an international flight.

How to Find Your Correct Terminal

The easiest way to confirm your terminal is to check your flight ticket or confirmation email, since the same airline can operate flights from more than one terminal depending on the destination.

• ■EgyptAir international flights → usually Terminal 3
• ■EgyptAir domestic flights → usually Terminal 1
• ■Charter airlines and tourist flights → usually Terminal 2