Cairo Airport sees rise in flight activity as TourismMin announces 25% increase in tourists during Q1

Cairo – May 4, 2025: Passenger and flight activity at Cairo International Airport saw notable year-on-year growth in April 2025, signaling continued momentum in Egypt’s aviation recovery. A total of 2.62 million travelers passed through the airport during the month, with 18,966 flights handled across arrivals and departures.

Outbound traffic included 1.28 million passengers on 9,470 flights, reflecting a 12 percent rise in the number of travelers and an 8 percent increase in flight frequency compared to April 2024.

On the inbound side, 1.34 million arriving passengers were recorded across 9,496 flights, with arrival volumes up 7 percent and passenger numbers growing by 8 percent year-on-year.

This growth comes amid continued efforts to enhance air services and strengthen connectivity, with Cairo Airport expected to witness further increases in traffic ahead of the Hajj season.

The rise in passenger movement also reflects the airport’s ongoing infrastructure upgrades and deployment of modern technologies aimed at improving the travel experience.

Complementing the rise in air travel, Egypt’s tourism sector posted a 25 percent year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals during the first quarter of 2025, with 3.9 million visitors, according to Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathi in an interview last week with Al-Sharq during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

The minister announced that 18,000 new hotel rooms are set to be added this year, reinforcing Egypt’s push to expand its hospitality capacity. The country received 15.7 million tourists in 2024, up 5 percent from the previous year, despite regional geopolitical challenges that continue to weigh on the tourism sector. Tourism revenues in 2024 neared $16 billion, underscoring the industry’s role as a critical source of foreign currency.

Fathi also unveiled a new international marketing campaign targeting eight European countries to diversify Egypt’s tourist base while preserving its traditional source markets. He projected an additional 8 percent increase in visitors by the end of 2025.

Earlier this month, the Tourism Ministry introduced new licensing regulations for “holiday apartments”—a new model of accommodation—aimed at accommodating growing demand. Egypt aims to double its tourist arrivals to 30 million by 2030 and raise annual tourism revenues to $24 billion, up from approximately $15 billion today.

To support this vision, the country plans to add over 200,000 hotel rooms within the next 3 to 4 years, increasing total capacity from the current 230,000 rooms. These expansions are part of a broader national strategy to strengthen tourism infrastructure, improve the quality of services, and tap into new international markets.