Egyptair Announces New Cairo Service At O’Hare International Airport

Egyptair Announces New Cairo Service At O'Hare International Airport

The route, which launches in June, will make Chicago the carrier's fourth destination in North America.

CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) today joined the Egyptian flag carrier EGYPTAIR to announce ne​w nonstop service from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Cairo International Airport (CAI), beginning this summer.

EGYPTAIR will operate the Chicago to Cairo service three times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, starting June 21. The flight is scheduled to arrive at O'Hare at 5:15 a.m. and depart at 10:30 a.m. The route will be operated on a 340-seat Airbus A350-900, configured with 30 Business Class seats and 310 Economy Class seats.

"I'm proud to welcome EGYPTAIR to Chicago as O'Hare's newest air carrier," Mayor Brandon Johnson said. "This new route will connect our great city with all of the historic wonders and vibrant culture that Egypt has to offer, along with convenient connections to Africa and the Middle East."

"Launching direct flights between Cairo and Chicago marks a significant milestone in EGYPTAIR's expansion into the U.S. market" said Captain Ahmed Adel, EGYPTAIR HOLDING Chairman and CEO. "This route will provide travelers with seamless connectivity between Egypt and one of America's most important aviation hubs, while strengthening our positioning as a main transatlantic carrier. We are proud to offer our customers more choices and convenience especially with the modernization that EGYPTAIR is implementing in its fleet and the unwavering intention to offer our passengers competitive services."

Cairo's position as a major global hub for EGYPTAIR is expected to generate significant connecting traffic, particularly to key destinations in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as onward connections to over twenty destinations across Africa. EGYPTAIR's arrival will also make it the fifteenth Star Alliance-affiliated carrier to operate at O'Hare. Once launched, the service will mark the city's first nonstop passenger link to North Africa.

"EGYPTAIR has played an important role in keeping the African continent connected to the world throughout its long history," CDA Commissioner Michael McMurray said. "I'm honored to welcome them to the world-class network of air carriers that has consistently made O'Hare the most connected airport in the United States."

"The announcement of the new service coincides with EGYPTAIR receiving its newest A350-900 planned to operate the non-stop flights offering our passenger with the latest inflight services and connectivity options" said Captain Mohamed Elian, EGYPTAIR AIRLINES Chairman and CEO.

The new flight will further strengthen long-standing ties between Chicago and Egypt. Chicago is home to a large and well-established Egyptian - American community that has been part of the region's professional and civic fabric since the 1950s, and hosts one of only five Egyptian consulates in the United States.

"This new nonstop route between Chicago and the historic, vibrant city of Cairo is a powerful signal that Chicago is a global gateway," said Phil Clement, President & CEO of World Business Chicago. "Direct air service matters to the business community as it accelerates trade, investment, tourism, and talent exchange. EGYPTAIR's decision to serve Chicago strengthens our connectivity to Africa and the Middle East, reinforcing O'Hare's position as one of the world's most important hubs for global commerce. This is a win for our city, our region, and the many businesses and communities who will benefit from this new link."

"The launch of nonstop service between Chicago and Cairo is another powerful example of Chicago's strength as a must-visit global destination," said Kristen Reynolds, President and CEO of Choose Chicago, the city's official destination marketing organization. "With Chicago O'Hare International Airport recently named the busiest airport in the United States, Chicago continues to build on its role as a premier international gateway. New nonstop service to world-class destinations like Cairo strengthens our global connectivity, fuels tourism and business travel, and keeps us firmly on a path toward becoming the busiest airport-and one of the most connected cities-in the world."

Chicago-based institutions and companies also maintain a meaningful presence in Egypt, including Oxford Capital Group, ADM, Simon-Kucher, and the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute, which has operated "Chicago House" in Luxor since 1924 to document and preserve ancient Egyptian artifacts and inscriptions. In 2024, Illinois ranked seventh among U.S. states in both imports from and exports to Egypt by dollar value, underscoring the state's significant economic and trade relationship with the country.

EGYPTAIR is one of the world's earliest air carriers - when it was established in 1932, it was the seventh airline in the world and the first in Africa.