Transfer at Sphinx Airport
Cairo Sphinx Airport uses only one very small terminal. The building is modern and very clear.
The distances to the planes are short and you can walk the entire terminal in 5 minutes - unlike the huge Cairo CAI airport.
Egyptian visas - where to buy at Sphinx Airport
When you arrive from abroad, you need to purchase a visa collection before visiting the normal immigration checkpoint.
Visas are sold at bank branches and always cost 25 usd. You can also pay in Euros, but at a 1:1 exchange rate, so pay 25 eur.
Only after you have bought your visa can you queue for immigration control.
Security checks and queues
Ideally, arrive at Sphinx Airport at least 2.5 hours before your flight, especially if you have checked luggage. In this case, you will in fact face 4 queues straight away.
The first queue is when you arrive by taxi at the airport area, when you go through the toll gate and can stand there for up to 20 minutes.
Next, there is a security check when you enter the terminal and your luggage is scanned. These checks tend to be quick, but if there are large numbers of people, you may have to wait up to 20 minutes.
Check-in queues vary by airline, but can take upwards of 60 minutes.
After that, you'll go through passport control, which is usually very quick (usually within 15 minutes), and the traditional security check between the public and transit areas (20-45 minutes).
Transfer between flights
Sphinx Airport is not a transfer hub and therefore does not have direct transit options.
If you make a transfer on your own at this airport, you will always need to purchase a visa, go through immigration and check in again.
Overnight in the terminal - opening hours
There is no overnight stay in the Sphinx terminal. You are not allowed into the departure lounge until approximately 4 hours before your departure, not before.
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