Aswan
International Airport
The southern gateway to the Nile: Abu Simbel, Philae and the end of the cruise route. An 11,161 foot runway with published Category 10 cover, no PPR, no mandatory handling, and a season that is winter for good reason.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Fact-checked against Icarus Jet fleet and airport operations data · Last updated 2 September 2026
The Airport
Aswan at a glance
Aswan carries the ICAO code HESN and the identifier ASW. A single 11,161 foot runway at 662 feet elevation, about 25 kilometres south west of the city near the High Dam, with published ICAO Category 10 fire cover.
It is an international airport with no airport PPR and no mandatory handling, and it is the southern end of most Nile itineraries.
Why here
Abu Simbel and the southern Nile
Aswan is the gateway to Abu Simbel, Philae, the High Dam and the southern end of the Nile cruise route. Abu Simbel itself is about 280 kilometres south, reached by a domestic flight or a drive of about three and a half hours, and is usually planned as a day trip from Aswan.
Most cruise itineraries run between Aswan and Luxor, and many private trips fly into one and out of the other. Our Cairo to Aswan route guide covers the leg from the capital. The season is October to April; Aswan is the hottest major city in Egypt in summer.
Operating
Runway, permit and handling
17/35 is 3,400 metres, about 11,161 feet, at 662 feet elevation. The published fire category is 10, unusually high for the traffic and worth confirming, though it means no business aircraft approaches the limit. Summer heat at this elevation features in a heavy departure calculation.
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.
There is no airport PPR and handling is not mandatory, though a handler is used for the permit coordination and customs. Jet A-1 is available.
History
Built with the High Dam
The airport was developed alongside the High Dam project in the 1960s, when Aswan became the centre of the largest engineering work in Egypt’s modern history.
It grew into the Nile Valley’s southern gateway as the cruise trade developed, and it has served both roles since.
Nearby
Aswan and the Egyptian fields
Egypt is a permits market first. Choose the airport by destination once the ECAA permit is in hand.
HECACairo InternationalHESXSphinx InternationalHEAXAlexandria InternationalHEGNHurghada InternationalHESHSharm El Sheikh International
HELXLuxor InternationalHEALEl Alamein InternationalHEGOEl Gouna
Luxor for the Valley of the Kings and the other end of the cruise. Cairo International and Sphinx for the capital. Hurghada and El Gouna for the Red Sea. Sharm El Sheikh for Sinai. Alexandria and El Alamein for the Mediterranean.
Airport guides & index
Questions
Aswan, answered
Can private jets use Aswan?
Yes. Aswan has an 11,161 foot runway with published Category 10 fire cover and international facilities, and it is the southern gateway to the Nile: Abu Simbel, Philae, the High Dam and the southern end of the cruise route. The ECAA landing permit applies; there is no airport PPR and handling is not mandatory.
How long is the runway at Aswan?
17/35 is 3,400 metres, about 11,161 feet, by 148 feet, in asphalt, at 662 feet elevation. The published fire category is 10, which is unusually high for the traffic and worth confirming, though it means no business aircraft approaches the limit.
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".
How do you get to Abu Simbel from Aswan?
Abu Simbel is about 280 kilometres south, with its own small airport served by domestic flights from Aswan and a road that takes about three and a half hours. For a private itinerary the usual shape is a day trip from Aswan by air or road. We plan it as part of the Aswan stay.
Luxor or Aswan?
Aswan for Abu Simbel, Philae and the southern Nile. Luxor for the Valley of the Kings and Karnak. Most cruise itineraries run between the two, and many private trips fly into one and out of the other. Our Cairo to Aswan route guide covers the leg from the capital.
When is the season at Aswan?
October to April. Aswan is the hottest major city in Egypt in summer, regularly exceeding 40 degrees, which affects both the experience and departure performance at 662 feet elevation. Winter is the season.
Is ground handling mandatory at Aswan?
No, handling is not mandatory, though a handler is used in practice for the permit coordination and customs. Jet A-1 is available.
How far is the airport from Aswan?
About 25 kilometres south west of the city, near the High Dam, a drive of around 30 minutes to the Nile-side hotels and the cruise moorings.
Can you fly direct to Aswan from abroad?
Yes, Aswan is an international airport with customs and immigration. A private aircraft can arrive internationally, permit in hand, without routing through Cairo, though most traffic arrives on the domestic leg from Cairo or Luxor.
What is the history of Aswan airport?
The airport was developed alongside the High Dam project in the 1960s, when Aswan became the centre of the largest engineering work in Egypt's modern history, and grew into the Nile Valley's southern gateway as the cruise trade developed. It has served both roles since.
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 Aswan charter
Tell us whether Abu Simbel is on the itinerary and whether the trip pairs with Luxor or a cruise. We file the ECAA permit inside the four day window and plan the whole southern Nile itinerary, including the Abu Simbel day, as one.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203 or email charter@icarusjet.com. The desk is staffed 24/7.