Ground Handling in Egypt

Which Airports Handle International Traffic?

Egypt's international traffic is concentrated at Cairo International Airport, the country's main hub, alongside the Red Sea leisure gateways at Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh and further international airports serving Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria, Marsa Alam and other destinations.

Traffic mix differs by airport: Cairo carries scheduled network, cargo, government and business aviation traffic, while the Red Sea airports are dominated by seasonal charter and leisure programmes with sharp summer and winter peaks.

How Handling Is Regulated

The Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority is the national regulator, and airports operate under the relevant airport authorities. Handling agents work under licences or approvals that define which services they may provide at which airport, and staff performing safety-critical functions such as load control and airside driving must hold the required qualifications.

Aviation security is governed by the national civil aviation security programme, so screening, aircraft guarding and access control follow state requirements rather than commercial preference.

What an Operator Needs to Arrange

• Overflight and landing permits for Egyptian airspace and airports where required.
• Slots and stand allocation at the intended airport.
• A licensed handling agent for ramp, passenger, crew and cargo requirements.
• Fuel arrangements and catering, coordinated with the turnaround plan.
• Customs, immigration and quarantine formalities for passengers, crew and cargo.
• Security requirements applicable to the flight and its category.

Practical Considerations

• Seasonality: Red Sea airports peak with charter programmes, so resources should be confirmed well before the season.
• Documentation: permits, crew documents and cargo paperwork should be complete before arrival to avoid ground delay.
• Government, state and military flights follow separate approval routes and usually require dedicated coordination.
• Business aviation and medical flights often need discreet passenger handling and fast clearance rather than terminal services.
• Diversions and ad-hoc stops require a contactable operations desk outside office hours.

Choosing a Handling Agent in Egypt

The assessment criteria are the same as anywhere: licensing at the specific airport, independent safety audit evidence, staffing and equipment at the required times, the ability to represent the operator with local authorities, and a clear scope of what is included. Local representation matters most when documentation or authority coordination is involved, because that work happens at the airport rather than in a contract.

How It Relates to Link Aero

Link Aero Trading Agency is an Egyptian aviation services company established in 1992, with its head office in Cairo and an IATA ISAGO registration as a ground handling provider. Egypt is the company's home market and the base of its 24/7 operations desk.

Published services include ground handling, flight support and permits, aviation security, cargo services, fuel, catering, crew handling and accommodation, and VIP passenger services, with representation against the civil aviation authority and other local authorities included in the handling scope.

Beyond Egypt, the company operates permanent stations in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Morocco, supported by an office in Belgium. Handling requests are received by a 24/7 operations desk. Airport-level coverage is confirmed per request.

Station

Egypt — permanent presence

Station contact

+20 100 210 8777+20 106 665 7631fboegypt@linkagency.com

24/7 operations

+202 2268 468624hrsops@linkagency.com

Related Link Aero services

• ground handling services
• flight permits services
• aviation security services
• cargo services services

Frequently asked questions

How do I request ground handling in Egypt?

Send the flight details — aircraft type and registration, route, dates and times, passenger and cargo figures and the services required — to a licensed handling agent in advance. Link Aero accepts requests through its handling request form and its 24/7 operations desk.

Do I need a permit to land in Egypt?

Non-scheduled and many other flights require overflight and landing permissions issued by the Egyptian authorities. Requirements depend on the flight category and operator, and permits are normally arranged through a flight support provider or handling agent.

Which Egyptian airports can be handled?

International traffic is handled at Cairo and the other Egyptian international airports, including the Red Sea gateways. Coverage should be confirmed per airport with the handling agent when planning a flight or a season.