TRIP REPORT
I flew with Air Cairo for the first time this November, travelling one-way from Belgrade to Cairo. I booked the ticket roughly ten days before departure, and by that point most options via European hubs were expensive, including flights with Turkish Airlines. On top of the high fares, almost all of these itineraries arrived in Cairo after midnight, as European carriers tend to schedule flights to maximise connectivity on the return legs into their networks.
In the end, I opted for Air Cairo via Hurghada. The ticket cost 250 euros and included an onward connection with Egypt Air, which also owns Air Cairo, as well as checked baggage. While the 5:30AM departure from Belgrade was far from ideal, it meant arriving in Cairo by 1PM, which suited my plans perfectly.
Air Cairo operates year-round flights to Belgrade. Although most seats are allocated to tour operators, the airline does sell tickets directly online, and it is also possible to book onward connections with Egypt Air on a single itinerary. The Air Cairo website allows passengers to pre-book seats, request special meals and manage other basic services.
I arrived at the airport at around 4AM, assuming the flight would have light loads given it was November. However, it quickly became apparent at check-in that the aircraft would be full, with long queues at the counters in Terminal 1. The passenger mix was quite diverse, consisting mainly of families with young children but also seniors, younger couples and a noticeable number of Russian passengers.
Despite travelling on a single ticket, I was required to collect my luggage in Hurghada and re-check it for the domestic sector. This is due to the transfer involving an international-to-domestic connection. I also had to collect my boarding pass for the onward Cairo flight in Hurghada.
One pleasant surprise was the number of shops and cafes already open at the airport before 5AM, an improvement compared to my previous early morning departure two years ago, when almost everything had been closed. The toilets were also spotless.
Checking FlightRadar, I saw that the aircraft had arrived on time from Hurghada, suggesting an on-time departure, which proved to be the case. The aircraft operating the flight was SU-BUZ, a three-year-old Airbus A320neo. I must say, I am quite fond of the Air Cairo livery.
Boarding began on schedule, and the flight was completely full. Seat pitch was on the tight side, and with every seat occupied, the cabin felt more cramped than it might otherwise have been. The seats do have USB ports. We pushed back on time, which I appreciated given my onward connection.
Having never flown Air Cairo before, I did not know what to expect onboard. After take-off, the cabin lights were dimmed and remained so for about an hour. Initially, there was no sign of any service, which I assumed meant none would be offered. Given the early departure, this was actually welcome, as many passengers used the time to sleep.
To my surprise, after roughly an hour the crew announced the start of service. Each passenger received a boxed snack containing two small cheese sandwiches and a portion of olives. I did not eat the meal, so I cannot comment on its quality. This was followed by complimentary orange juice or water.
The remainder of the flight passed uneventfully. I did not use the lavatories, so I cannot comment on their condition.
We landed in Hurghada on time and were bussed to the relatively new passenger terminal. Air Cairo is the largest airline operating at Hurghada. After collecting my luggage, I walked to the adjacent domestic terminal and checked in for my Egypt Air flight to Cairo, operated by a Boeing 737-800. This flight was also full, with most passengers appearing to be foreign tourists, particularly from France and Germany.
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