Sphinx International Airport.
Introduction
The Egyptian Air Force utilised Cairo West Air Base as a military base. The Egyptian government converted the base into a commercial enterprise in order to ease aircraft traffic congestion at Cairo International Airport. Prior to the start of commercial flights, the airport was dubbed Sphinx International Airport. In October 2018, EgyptAir Express flew the first test flight to Cairo West Sphinx International Airport. Sphinx International Airport opened in January of 2019.
On Tuesday, the Sphinx International Airport welcomed its first international flight from the Fly Jordan airline, which arrived from Jordan with 104 passengers on board, marking the maiden flight of the new line between Jordan and Giza.
The airport’s public relations staff greeted the flight’s passengers with flowers and souvenirs while overseeing the formalities for their arrival and departure from the airport to their waiting relatives.
This is the first international flight to land at the airport since it opened in January 2019; following a 15-day pilot operation for EgyptAir’s internal flights.
Location
The new LE300 million airport, located west of Cairo, is expected to be a major tourist attraction due to its proximity to the Giza Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and other historic sites in Cairo and Giza.
The main building of Sphinx airport
It has to main halls, one for departures with a 975-square-meter floor area and a capacity of 300 passengers per hour; and another for arrivals with a 1100-square-meter floor area and a capacity of 300 passengers per hour.
The Giza Pyramids by tom@hk
Lounge at Sphinx Airport
A VIP lounge and five counters are also available, as well as 42 administrative, customs, security; and other service offices spread across 26,000 square meters.
According to the Al-Ahram website, the airport has sophisticated air control, an Instrument Landing System, Distance Measuring Equipment, and high-efficiency security gear.
X-ray passenger and cargo inspection systems, the latest thermal surveillance cameras, and automatic fire alarms are among these devices.
The airport is powered by a major energy station, which also feeds eight additional substations. A concrete water tank with a 1500-cubic-meter capacity to feed the water and fire networks, a meteorological facility, a mosque, and a parking area with room for hundreds of cars are among the other amenities.
The International Civil Aviation Organization registered and graded the Sphinx Airport, which began construction in 2016. It is located on the Cairo-Alexandria desert route and was built as Egypt’s 33rd airport.
The last most important additions
The airport was rumoured to be expanding in December 2020; with the total area increasing from 4,500 square meters (48,400 square feet) to 23,000 square meters (248,000 square feet), allowing for a capacity of 900 passengers per hour rather than 300. This aims to meet an estimated increase in passenger traffic as a result of the Grand Egyptian Museum’s opening. The airport is expected to have a 6,500 square meter (70,000 square foot) transit hall; a 7,000 square meter arrival hall; a 1,000 square meter food and beverage area, duty-free stores, passport offices, an X-ray section, and 28 check-in counters. In addition, there is a banking and quarantine room, a luggage claim area, eight passport counters, eight escalators, and a 1,440 tonne refrigerator chilling plant.
Important strategies
The project is in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030 strategic goals; which include boosting economic development across the country’s governorates and revitalising the tourism industry.
According to Civil Aviation Ministry sources; the plan for Sphinx International Airport includes the construction of a new terminal with a 600-passenger-per-hour capacity.
