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Travel - International
AIR: The national airline is Egypt Air (MS) (website: www.egyptair.com.eg). All the main carriers service Egypt, including Cathay Pacific, KLM, Lufthansa, JAL, Olympic Airways and Swiss. Charter services fly direct from London Gatwick to Egypt. British Mediterranean (a franchise partner of British Airways) operates daily services from London to Alexandria.
Approximate flight times: From Cairo to London is 4 hours 45 minutes (from Luxor to London is 5 hours 35 minutes), from Cairo to Los Angeles is 16 hours 40 minutes, to New York is 14 hours 25 minutes, to Singapore is 12 hours 35 minutes, and to Sydney is 20 hours.
International airports: Cairo International (CAI), 22km (14 miles) northeast of the city at Heliopolis (travel time – 60 minutes). There are bus services every 30 minutes, and taxis are available. Special limousines are offered by local and international operators. Hotel cars may also be available. Airport facilities include incoming and outgoing 24-hour duty-free shops selling a wide range of goods, several 24-hour car hire firms, post office, 24-hour bank/bureau de change, 24-hour restaurants and bar, hotel reservation service, souvenir shops, bookshop and travel insurance services.
Borg El Arab (HBE), has replaced El Nouzha airport as the main international airport for Alexandria. It lies 60 km (37 miles) southwest of Alexandria. Airport facilities include a duty-free shop, bank and exchange services, VIP lounge, post office and restaurant.
Luxor Airport (LXR) is 5.5km (3.5 miles) from Luxor. There is a regular bus service to the city centre (travel time – 15 minutes). Special limousine and local taxi services are available. Airport facilities include car hire, bank and exchange services, and a bar and restaurant. Improvement works have taken place and are expected to continue to meet the increasing tourist flow.
Departure tax: None.
SEA: The main coastal ports are Alexandria, Nuweiba, Port Said and Suez. The Saudi Sea Transport Company runs a regular car ferry service between Suez and Jeddah. A ferry service usually travels twice a week up the Nile between Wadi Halfa (Sudan) and Egypt High Dam, but is occasionally suspended. For further information, contact the Nile Valley Association (tel: (2) 578 9256). There is also a ferry service that operates twice daily between South Sinai and Aqaba (Jordan). There are special rates for children under 12 and under three years of age. For more information, contact the Cairo Navigation Agency (tel: (2) 574 5755 or 575 5568). The Black Sea Shipping Company sails from Odessa. Other main passenger lines are Egyptian Navigation Company, Gulf Agency Company, Orient Shipping Ltd and Arab Express Shipping. Many cruise ships stop over in Egypt as part of their African itinerary. Main cruise line operators include Orient Lines, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Silversea Cruises.
RAIL: There are no international rail links to any of Egypt’s northwestern neighbours. The railheads at Aswan and Wadi Halfa, Sudan are connected by a ferry across Lake Nasser.
ROAD: The road border between Libya and Egypt is open. There are two border crossings between Israel and Egypt: one runs from Cairo via El Arish to Rafiah on the north Sinai coast; and the other from Cairo via Suez and Taba to Eilat. Daily coaches leave early in the morning from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel for travel via El Arish/Rafiah to Cairo and vice versa. There are no direct buses from Eilat to Cairo; it is necessary to change in Taba. The crossing from Taba to Eilat is now open 24 hours a day. Passengers in taxis and rented cars are not permitted to cross the borders between Israel and Egypt. Privately owned vehicles may be taken across other borders, provided the appropriate documentation is obtained. All private vehicles entering Egypt must have a three month triptyche or Carnet de passage en douane from an automobile club in the country of registration. The driver must hold an international drivers’ licence. Visas should normally be obtained in advance; however, travellers entering Egypt via Taba may be able to obtain visas at the border. Contact the Tourist Office for further details of entry restrictions (see Contact Addresses section).
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