Sphinx
International Airport
Cairo’s second airport, in Giza, and the one we recommend for most private arrivals. One runway, no airline queue, 24 hours, customs on site, and roughly 35 minutes to downtown. The trade is that there is no maintenance on the field.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Fact-checked against Icarus Jet fleet and airport operations data · Last updated 2 September 2026
The Airport
Sphinx at a glance
Sphinx carries the ICAO code HESX and the identifier SPX. A single 11,975 foot runway at 553 feet elevation, about 35 kilometres west of Cairo in Giza, with ICAO Category 7 fire cover.
It operates 24 hours with customs and immigration on site, has no airport slot requirement, and sees a private aircraft land and clear faster than Cairo International.
Why here
Faster, closer, cheaper
Sphinx is about 35 minutes from downtown Cairo and Zamalek and around 25 minutes from 6th of October City, materially shorter than the same journeys from Cairo International through the city’s traffic. It is about 23 miles from the Pyramids.
There is no airline queue and no slot. A private aircraft lands sooner and clears faster, around the clock. Published operating estimates put a movement here at roughly 1,050 dollars against about 1,630 at Cairo International, with a day landing fee around 103 dollars.
The one real limitation is maintenance. Sphinx has no dedicated maintenance facilities, so a technical issue on the ground is harder to resolve. For a multi-day stay that is the trade we walk through before filing.
Permits
What Egypt requires
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 slot at Sphinx. Handling is available 24 hours and is not mandatory. 16R/34L is 3,650 metres, about 11,975 feet, at 553 feet elevation, with Category 7 fire cover.
History
A second airport for Cairo
Sphinx was inaugurated in 2017, began domestic operations in 2018, and later expanded to international flights including private jets. Our note on Cairo’s new airport covers its opening.
It was built to serve Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum and the western suburbs, and to relieve Cairo International. For business aviation it has done exactly that.
Nearby
Sphinx and the Egyptian fields
Egypt is a permits market first. Choose the airport by destination once the ECAA permit is in hand.
HECACairo InternationalHEAXAlexandria InternationalHEGNHurghada InternationalHESHSharm El Sheikh International
HELXLuxor InternationalHESNAswan InternationalHEALEl Alamein InternationalHEGOEl Gouna
Cairo International for scheduled connections, east Cairo and maintenance support. Alexandria and El Alamein for the Mediterranean coast. Luxor and Aswan for the Nile Valley. Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and El Gouna for the Red Sea.
Airport guides & index
Questions
Sphinx, answered
Can private jets use Sphinx International?
Yes, and it is the airport we recommend for most private arrivals into Cairo. Sphinx is a single-runway airport west of the city in Giza with an 11,975 foot runway, 24 hour operations, customs and immigration on site, and no airline traffic to queue behind. A private aircraft lands sooner and clears faster than at Cairo International.
Why choose Sphinx over Cairo International?
Time and cost. Sphinx is about 35 minutes from downtown Cairo and Zamalek and around 25 minutes from 6th of October City, materially shorter than the same journeys from Cairo International through the city's traffic. It is also cheaper to operate into: published estimates put a movement at roughly 1,050 dollars against about 1,630 at Cairo International, with a day landing fee around 103 dollars.
What is the limitation at Sphinx?
Maintenance. There are no dedicated maintenance facilities on the field, so a technical issue on the ground is harder to resolve than at Cairo International. For a short stay that rarely matters; for an aircraft night-stopping over several days it is the trade we walk clients through before filing.
How long is the runway at Sphinx?
16R/34L is 3,650 metres, about 11,975 feet, by 148 feet, in asphalt, at 553 feet elevation. Fire cover is ICAO Category 7. 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".
Does Sphinx need a slot?
No, there is no airport slot requirement at Sphinx, which is one of its main advantages over Cairo International. The ECAA landing permit still applies. Handling is available around the clock and is not mandatory.
How far is Sphinx from the Pyramids?
About 23 miles, and about 30 miles from Tahrir Square. For a first stop at the Pyramids or anywhere in western Cairo it is without question the closer field.
Is Sphinx open 24 hours?
Yes, with customs, immigration and ground handling available throughout. That removes the timing constraint that a slot regime imposes at Cairo International.
Is ground handling mandatory at Sphinx?
No, handling is not mandatory in the regulatory sense, though a handler is used in practice for the permit coordination and customs. Jet A-1 is available.
What is the history of Sphinx International?
The airport was inaugurated in 2017, began domestic operations in 2018, and later expanded to handle international flights including private jets. It was built to serve Giza, the new Grand Egyptian Museum and the western suburbs, and to relieve Cairo International. Our note on Cairo's new airport covers its opening.
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 a Cairo charter
Tell us where in Cairo you are going and how long the aircraft stays. For most trips we recommend Sphinx, file the ECAA permit inside the four day window, and flag the maintenance question if the aircraft night-stops.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203 or email charter@icarusjet.com. The desk is staffed 24/7.