What are the pros of Air Cairo Airlines?

Low prices compared to other local airlines. Extensive regional routes. Friendly service on board. Smooth flights on their newer Airbus A320 Neo planes. Quick boarding and disembarking process. Free water on short flights.

Why is Low prices compared to other considered good?

Low prices compared to other local airlines

What are the cons of Air Cairo Airlines?

Potential for older ATR planes with cramped seating and poor ride quality. Customer support was unresponsive and unhelpful. Baggage claim in Cairo was a real drag. Limited in-flight amenities. Not all flights are created equal - be prepared for a bumpy ride. Older planes can be a real pain.

Are there any issues with Potential for older ATR planes?

Potential for older ATR planes with cramped seating and poor ride quality

Are there any issues with Customer support was unresponsive and?

Customer support was unresponsive and unhelpful

Is Air Cairo Airlines worth buying?

Air Cairo Airlines has mixed reviews with an average rating of 3.0/5. Consider reading detailed user experiences before deciding.

Air Cairo Review: Low Prices, But Watch Out for the ATR

Name: A Surprise on the Propeller Plane - My Air Cairo Experience
Item: Air Cairo Airlines
Rating: 3
Author: Ley

Editor's Summary

I recently flew with Air Cairo from Hurghada to Cairo and back, and while they offer some great deals, I've got to warn you about the potential downsides. Their low prices and extensive regional routes are a major plus, but be prepared for a bumpy ride if you end up on one of their older ATR planes. The service on board was friendly, but the customer support was a total disaster. Here's the lowdown on my experience with Air Cairo.

Specifications

Fiyat9/10

Kararİyi

Uzunluk7/10

HizmetKalite8/10

Hey there!

Last month, my family and I needed to spend a few days in Cairo. We decided to fly instead of drive, and we started looking for flights. Our route from Hurghada to Cairo and back is one of the most popular in Egypt, but the high cost of flights kept us waiting for a good deal.

And then we found it: we managed to buy tickets a week before our trip at AIR CAIRO, an airline I'd heard of but never flown with. I'm sharing my fresh impressions, prices, and details about buying tickets, registration, and the flight below.

Air Cairo reviews 2025

🛫 BUYING TICKETS: WHAT TO CHOOSE?

I want to clear things up: currently, you can choose from three airlines for flights from Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh to Cairo and back:

Egypt Air - the state-owned airline with excellent service, which has been my go-to choice for flights in Egypt for a long time. However, their prices are at least 30% higher than the other two, and discounts are rare.

Air Cairo - Egypt Air's subsidiary, which operates most flights from Egypt's resorts to Cairo. As expected, their prices are lower, and there's always a chance to catch a good deal.

Nile Air - a private airline with a small fleet, which often offers great discounts and sometimes (very rarely) launches direct flights between Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh without a layover in Cairo.

We bought our tickets in early November, which is the peak season in Egypt. Egypt Air's prices reached $150 one way, Nile Air offered tickets for $120, and Air Cairo's prices were consistently at $118. A week later, Air Cairo dropped their prices by 50%, and we decided it was time to book.

Air Cairo reviews about the airline 2025

We bought our tickets on Air Cairo's official website, paid with a foreign card, and encountered no issues with payment. You can also buy tickets on Ozon now, but be aware that prices will be slightly higher, and you won't be able to return your tickets if you pay with a Russian card.

Air Cairo's official website is well-designed, easy to navigate, and available in English.

Air Cairo reviews about the airline 2025 When it comes to the route from Hurghada to Cairo and back in high season (October to April), Air Cairo operates three flights. I noticed that the nighttime flight is always cheaper by $30 to $40 compared to the daytime and morning flights. You'll get the best deals on Air Cairo (and all other airlines) by searching for tickets in the middle of the week at night.

🛫 THE LOWDOWN ON THE AIRLINE:

Air Cairo is a subsidiary of Egypt Air, the largest carrier in Egypt, which has been on the market for 20 years. The airline operates regular and charter flights to 25 countries and 60 airports worldwide, including Russia. On Russian routes, they have a code-sharing agreement with Russian charter airlines, including SouthWind Airlines. This means that if you book a ticket with Air Cairo, you might end up on a different airline.

The airline's fleet is not that big:

• 7 Airbus A320neo planes with 180 economy seats

• A few Airbus A321 planes on lease, seating around 220 passengers

• 5 ATR 72 planes, which they only use for short flights

The average age of their planes is 10 years.

🛫 CHECK-IN AND ONLINE CHECK-IN:

I usually prefer online check-in since it saves a lot of time. Air Cairo's online check-in started 24 hours before our flight. We were departing from the first terminal of Hurghada's international airport, which is notorious for long security checks.

It's convenient that online check-in lets you see the type of plane you'll be on. You can also choose your seats right away. I was surprised that Air Cairo doesn't offer paid seats at all.

Air Cairo reviews about the airline 2025

We booked our tickets under the ECO FLEX tariff, which included a 7 kg carry-on bag and one 23 kg checked bag. Air Cairo also has a Lawcost tariff, which is similar to ECO FLEX but you can't cancel your ticket.

Air Cairo reviews about the airline 2025

Carry-on bag sizes in Air Cairo

55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm.

On both flights, no one checked our carry-on bags, and the scales were missing at the check-in counters in Hurghada and Cairo.

🛫 Flight with Air Cairo.

We flew out of terminal one at Hurghada International Airport, which is where Air Cairo always departs from for domestic flights. We arrived at the airport an hour and a half before our flight, and there were no queues for check-in.

Since we'd already done our online check-in, we were able to drop off our luggage at the designated drop-off area, print out our boarding passes, and head straight to security. Be sure to take note of the prohibited items in your luggage and carry-on when you're checking in:

Air Cairo reviews 2025 Boarding started on time, 40 minutes before our scheduled departure, and we were taken to the plane on a bus:

Air Cairo reviews 2025 We flew out of Hurghada on an A320neo, a compact plane with a narrow aisle that's designed to seat 174 people. There's no business class on this plane, and to be honest, it's not really necessary for a flight that's only an hour and 35 minutes long.

Air Cairo reviews 2025 Air Cairo planes reviews A telltale sign of a budget airline is the cramped legroom. On this plane, it's a mere 28 inches, and the seat in front of you will be right up against your knees.

Air Cairo reviews 2025 As someone who's 5'9", I found it a bit uncomfortable, but the flight was so short that I was able to get by.

Air Cairo reviews of the airline 2025 The tray table folds up, and the air conditioning system works just fine:

Air Cairo reviews of the airline 2025 Air Cairo reviews 2025 Air Cairo reviews 2025 The toilets were clean and comfortable.

Air Cairo reviews 2025 The overhead bins in this type of plane are spacious and convenient:

Air Cairo reviews 2025

I was in for a surprise on my way back from Cairo when Air Cairo upgraded me to a vintage ATR-72. I'd flown on one of these from Egypt to Jordan before, and I thought I'd never go through that again. But, as we all know, you can't always predict these things. What's interesting is that this type of plane isn't even listed in Air Cairo's fleet, and I can only assume it's because there weren't enough passengers booked on the original flight, so they swapped me to a backup plane.

Air Cairo reviews 2025 The ATR-72 has a capacity of 78 seats, and it's a nightmare for me in every way - the low ceiling, narrow aisles, tiny 72cm gap between seats, and constant hum of the propellers during flight. Unlike modern jet planes, this one doesn't climb high, and I felt the turbulence a lot - and that was on a perfect weather day!

Air Cairo reviews 2025 The overhead bins in this plane were a joke - you can't even fit a large backpack in them. We had to stow all our carry-on luggage under the seats, and it was a very uncomfortable flight. To make matters worse, we were delayed by 30 minutes due to the plane's slower speed and lower altitude.

I have to give credit to the pilots, though - they landed the plane like pros, and I couldn't even tell the difference from a jet plane. But taking off in an ATR is a whole different story, especially in the back of the plane: the plane shoots up to a high altitude quickly, pitches forward, and makes a loud noise like a racing car.

One thing to note is that Air Cairo doesn't offer in-flight meals on short flights, but you can get free water in any amount.

On both flights, we checked in and collected our baggage without any issues. In Cairo, it took 40 minutes to collect our baggage, while in Hurghada, we got it almost immediately.

Air Cairo reviews 2025 🛫 IMPRESSIONS:

The best thing about Air Cairo is their low prices and extensive regional routes. Compared to other local airlines, the price difference on flights to Cairo is significant. I understand that on regional flights, the airline tries to sell as many tickets as possible, but that's no excuse to swap me to a less comfortable plane like the ATR. They could've just reduced the number of flights instead.

So, I'd recommend Air Cairo with caution: I loved the service on board and the smooth flight on the Airbus 320 Neo, but you have to be aware that on domestic flights in Egypt, you might end up on an old ATR. I assume that on international flights, it's unlikely you'll be on one of these planes.

Air Cairo was pretty punctual for a low-cost carrier - we took off from Hurghada and Cairo even a few minutes ahead of schedule. Boarding and disembarking were super quick, but baggage claim in Cairo was a real drag.

I've got to say, their customer support was a total disaster: I couldn't get through to their office in Hurghada, so we had to ask all our questions at the check-in desk in the airport. I'm not sure if I'd fly with them again, especially for short hops.

Wishing you all happy travels and thanks for reading my review!

Air Cairo reviews

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Featured FAQ

What's the best way to book a flight with Air Cairo?

You can book directly on their website or through a third-party booking platform. Be sure to check for any promotions or discounts before you book.

What's the deal with Air Cairo's ATR planes?

Unfortunately, Air Cairo still operates some older ATR planes, which can be a real bummer. They're cramped, noisy, and can be a bit of a rough ride. But hey, at least they're cheap, right?

Can I trust Air Cairo's customer support?

Honestly, no. I had a terrible experience with their customer support team, and I wouldn't recommend relying on them for help.

What's the baggage policy like on Air Cairo?

You're allowed to bring one carry-on bag and one checked bag, but be aware that the overhead bins on their ATR planes are super small.

Are there any in-flight amenities on Air Cairo?

Unfortunately, no. They don't offer meals on short flights, but you can get free water in any amount.

How do I know which plane I'll be on?

Air Cairo doesn't always disclose which plane you'll be on until check-in, so be prepared for a surprise.

Can I cancel or change my ticket with Air Cairo?

It depends on the type of ticket you bought. If you've got an ECO FLEX ticket, you can cancel or change it for a fee. But if you've got a Lawcost ticket, you're stuck with it.

How do I get to the airport on time?

Make sure to leave plenty of time to get to the airport, especially if you're flying out of Hurghada. The airport can be a bit of a madhouse, so plan ahead.