Alexandria
International Airport
Formerly Borg El Arab, renamed with a new ICAO code, HEAX. The only working airport for Egypt’s second city, 40 kilometres east of it, with an 11,156 foot runway and some of the most inconsistently recorded data in the country.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Fact-checked against Icarus Jet fleet and airport operations data · Last updated 2 September 2026
The Airport
Alexandria at a glance
Alexandria International, formerly Borg El Arab, carries the ICAO code HEAX and the identifier HBE. A main runway of 11,156 feet with a second parallel runway, at 177 feet elevation, about 40 kilometres east of the city.
It is the only working airport for Alexandria since El Nouzha closed for reconstruction, and it carries all of the city’s traffic.
The Code
HEBA became HEAX
The airport was renamed from Borg El Arab International to Alexandria International, and its ICAO code changed from HEBA to HEAX. The IATA code HBE did not change. Older databases, and our own previous guide, still carry the old name and code.
Filing the wrong ICAO code is a real risk here. We confirm the current code on every operation rather than rely on a cached record, and this page is one of the reasons why: the airport’s published data is among the least consistent in Egypt.
Operating
Runway, permit and position
14L/32R is about 11,156 feet, with a second parallel runway 14R/32L, at 177 feet elevation. The runway takes the whole of business aviation. Fire cover is not published in open sources and is confirmed per operation. Handling is available and arranged regardless.
Egypt requires a landing permit from the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority for private and charter flights. We plan on four business days, with registration, airworthiness, insurance, noise certificate, AOC for charter and crew details, and a specific stated purpose of flight rather than business.
The airport is about 40 kilometres east of Alexandria. For the north coast resorts to the west, El Alamein is often the shorter ground leg.
History
From relief airport to the only one
Borg El Arab opened in 1993 as a secondary airport for Alexandria and grew into the primary one as El Nouzha’s constrained site near the centre reached its limits.
When El Nouzha closed for reconstruction, Borg El Arab became the city’s only airport. It was subsequently renamed Alexandria International, with a new ICAO code, to reflect that role.
Nearby
Alexandria and the Egyptian fields
Egypt is a permits market first. Choose the airport by destination once the ECAA permit is in hand.
HECACairo InternationalHESXSphinx InternationalHEGNHurghada InternationalHESHSharm El Sheikh International
HELXLuxor InternationalHESNAswan InternationalHEALEl Alamein InternationalHEGOEl Gouna
El Alamein for the north coast resorts west of the city. Cairo International and Sphinx for the capital, about three hours south by road. Luxor and Aswan for the Nile Valley. Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and El Gouna for the Red Sea.
Airport guides & index
Questions
Alexandria, answered
Is Borg El Arab the same as Alexandria International?
Yes. Borg El Arab International Airport was renamed Alexandria International Airport, and its ICAO code changed from HEBA to HEAX. The IATA code HBE is unchanged. Published data still carries both the old name and the old ICAO code, which is why the airport is one of the most inconsistently recorded in Egypt.
Can private jets use Alexandria International?
Yes. The main runway is 11,156 feet with a second parallel runway, at 177 feet elevation. It is the only working airport for Egypt's second city since El Nouzha closed for reconstruction, and it carries all of Alexandria's traffic, scheduled and private.
Which ICAO code should you file?
HEAX is the current code. HEBA was the code under the Borg El Arab name and still appears in older databases and on our own previous guide. Filing the wrong code is a real risk here; we confirm the current code on every operation.
How long are the runways at Alexandria?
14L/32R is about 11,156 feet, with a second parallel runway 14R/32L alongside. Field elevation is 177 feet. The runway takes the whole of business aviation.
What permit does Egypt require?
Egypt requires a landing permit from the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority for private and charter flights. We plan on four business days, with registration, airworthiness, insurance, noise certificate, AOC for charter and crew details, and a specific stated purpose of flight rather than "business".
Where is the airport relative to Alexandria?
About 40 kilometres east of the city, which is a real drive. It was built as a relief airport and became the only one when El Nouzha, close to the centre, closed. For the north coast resorts west of the city, El Alamein is often the shorter ground leg.
Is ground handling mandatory at Alexandria?
Handling is available and we arrange it regardless. We have not confirmed from an authoritative source whether it is formally mandatory, so we do not state that it is.
What is the fire category at Alexandria?
Not published in the open sources we can verify. We confirm it per operation rather than quote a figure.
Alexandria or El Alamein?
Alexandria for the city itself. El Alamein for the north coast resort strip at Sidi Abdel Rahman and points west, where it saves a long coastal drive. They are the two airports on Egypt's Mediterranean coast and serve different ends of it.
What is the history of the airport?
Borg El Arab opened in 1993 as a secondary airport for Alexandria and grew into the primary one as El Nouzha's constrained site reached its limits. When El Nouzha closed for reconstruction, Borg El Arab became the city's only airport, and it was subsequently renamed Alexandria International with a new ICAO code to reflect that role.
What time zone is Egypt in?
Eastern European Time, UTC+2, with daylight saving reinstated from 2023 giving UTC+3 in summer.
Get Your Number
Request an Alexandria charter
Tell us whether the destination is the city or the north coast. We file the ECAA permit under the current HEAX code inside the four day window, arrange handling, and price El Alamein alongside if the resorts are where you are actually going.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203 or email charter@icarusjet.com. The desk is staffed 24/7.