← Home / Airports / Egypt

Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Cairo International Airport

Cairo, Cairo Governorate (Egypt)

IATA: CAI ICAO: HECA

Longest Active Runway

13,124 ft

4,000 meters

Field Elevation

322 ft

98 m MSL

Runway Inventory

3 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

30.1115°, 31.3967°

LARGE AIRPORT

🏆

Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#52 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#93 of 7558

Top 1.3% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Egypt)

#2 in EG

#2 of 28 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+31.2%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Cairo International Airport's longest active runway measures 13,124 ft (4,000 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #52. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #93 worldwide (Top 1.3%) and #2 nationally in Egypt.

🛫

Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Cairo International Airport (CAI)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Cairo International Airport is the historic commercial aviation crossway linking Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Its three runways permit high-capacity operations, supporting EgyptAir's intercontinental network. Elevated at 382 ft MSL on the eastern edge of the Nile Valley, CAI's 13,120 ft parallel runways ensure that heavy widebody flights can depart safely for North America and Asia even during scorching desert summer afternoons.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Three active runways: parallel pair 05C/23C (13,120 ft / 4,000 m) and 05R/23L (13,120 ft / 4,000 m), plus crosswind Runway 05L/23R (10,830 ft / 3,300 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Built during WWII as Payne Field for the US Army Air Forces. Transferred to Egyptian civil control in 1945; expanded with Terminal 3 in 2009 and a massive runway reconstruction in the 2010s.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Busiest airport in Egypt and second-busiest in Africa, operating alongside Sphinx International (SPX, 28 NM west) which serves the Giza pyramids.

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Desert khamsin winds in spring generate localized sandstorms and high ambient temperatures, countered by Runway 05C and 05R's identical 13,120 ft lengths.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Egypt National Civil Aviation Authority · State Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) & ICAO Annex 14 Standards

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4E / 4F Super-Heavy

⛰️

Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Cairo International Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 322 ft (98 m MSL) in Cairo. Situated in low-lying coastal terrain, the aerodrome benefits from dense ambient atmospheric pressure, maximizing turbine engine thrust and wing lift efficiency across all departure vectors.

🧭

Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Busiest airport in Egypt and second-busiest in Africa, operating alongside Sphinx International (SPX, 28 NM west) which serves the Giza pyramids. Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 1 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Sphinx International Airport (SPX) located 26 NM away.

✈️

Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 13,124 ft (4,000 m)

Cairo International Airport's active flight strips comprise 05R/23L (13,124 ft), 05C/23C (13,123 ft), 05L/23R (10,827 ft). With a longest active threshold of 13,124 ft (4,000 m), the aerodrome satisfies unrestricted long-haul takeoff and landing distance requirements for heavy twin-aisle and four-engine widebodies (ICAO Code 4E/4F).

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
05R/23L	13,124 ft (4000m)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
05C/23C	13,123 ft (4000m)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
05L/23R	10,827 ft (3300m)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name	IATA	Distance	Longest Runway	Lighting
Sphinx International Airport (Al Jiza)	`SPX`	26 NM (48.2 km)	11,975 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database

Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01

Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected

Source Verification: Source-reported registry data

Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/cai.json ↗