EgyptAir Launching Cairo To Newark Flights

EgyptAir Launching Cairo To Newark Flights

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EgyptAir has just revealed its fourth destination in North America, which seems like a logical enough addition.

EgyptAir adds Newark route as of June 2023

As of June 3, 2023, EgyptAir will launch a new 3x weekly flight between Cairo (CAI) and Newark (EWR). The flight will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, with the following schedule:

MS987 Cairo to Newark departing 4:40AM arriving 10:00AM
MS988 Newark to Cairo departing 1:00PM arriving 6:55AM (+1 day)

The 5,623-mile flight is blocked at 11hr20min westbound and 11hr55min eastbound. It’s interesting to see an eastbound flight blocked longer than a westbound flight.

EgyptAir will use a Boeing 787-9 for the route, featuring 309 seats. This includes 30 business class seats and 279 economy class seats.

I recently reviewed EgyptAir’s Boeing 787-9 business class. The airline has reverse herringbone seats, which are quite competitive. While the hard product is good, just about everything else leaves something to be desired.

EgyptAir Boeing 787 business class

How this route fits into EgyptAir’s network

For context, Newark will be EgyptAir’s fourth destination in North America. The airline also flies:

  • 7x weekly to New York (JFK)
  • 5x weekly to Toronto (YYZ)
  • 4x weekly to Washington (IAD)
EgyptAir Boeing 787 at Cairo Airport

On the surface it might seem strange to some that EgyptAir is adding flights to Newark when it already flies to Kennedy. However, keep in mind that EgyptAir is in the Star Alliance, so it has a ton of potential connectivity at Newark through partner United. Meanwhile United doesn’t even fly to Kennedy, so the airline has a lot less connectivity there.

EgyptAir’s Newark flight is well timed for many connections on both ends, so I can’t imagine the airline will have any trouble filling seats on this flight. Admittedly it’s not exactly the boldest expansion, but it makes sense, given connectivity, and the parts of the United States with the biggest Egyptian populations.

EgyptAir Boeing 787 after departing Cairo

Bottom line

EgyptAir will soon be launching flights to Newark, as the airline will fly 3x weekly from Cairo to Newark with a Boeing 787. This is a logical enough addition, and complements the carrier’s existing daily service to New York. It would be nice to see EgyptAir expand to a completely new market in North America, but I think that’s unlikely for the time being.

What do you make of EgyptAir adding flights to Newark?

Conversations (34)
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  1. Magdi Noaman Guest

    It wiil be great idea if one or two of those three flight will go to Alexandria . This will be great for all people in Egypt Northen cities.
    All Flights from JFK go to Cairo. None to Alexandria

  2. Moe Guest

    I wish the Egypt Air flights were from Newark to Alexandria rather than Cairo; but all in all Great News for an Awesome Airline.

  3. Nevine Shulkami Guest

    Most welcome news.. so happy. I love Egyptair.. they have the best pilots.. the service on board depends on the crew.. I had excellent service and had below average service.. same for the food. I just hope this is true news.

  4. MT Guest

    3 East Coast airports, and none on West Coast………

  5. Jessie Guest

    Any idea when this will show up as a United award route? Thank you!

  6. Reham Guest

    Why they dont do from texas houston

  7. Josh Guest

    After MS990 I wouldn’t trust my life in the hands of any Egyptian camel jockey pilot if you paid me all the gold in the Pharoah’s pyramid.

    1. Shaheer Guest

      That is a very racist way of looking at things. You see the same things on major airlines like lufthansa and German wings yet you probably still fly those airlines.

    2. Nev Guest

      As if US carriers never crash

  8. Akram Guest

    I can't find any advantage in this Newark flight. Part of the bad departure and arrival time at both ends, connecting flights in USA could be terribly inconvenient; for onee has clear customs, immigration, and change terminals after a long exhausting journey. That doesn't save any time either. I would much rather to connect in Europe " favourably Germany" then fly directly to my final US destination.

  9. Shahira Yanny Guest

    Very good news it will make it much easier to many many travellers to and from Egypt though the time of the flights is not too comfortable

    1. Laurie Guest

      I flew EgyptAir several times, and it is the best flight I’ve ever experienced. Hands-down American flights are awful. The food is great 90% of the time which is more than any American Airlines I’ve experienced. On the flight over they give you a blanket pillow and a little bag with a toothbrush and all essential items that you need to feel comfortable that is a thoughtful airline.

  10. Andrew Gonzales Guest

    It's a good step, but I wish they would fly to LAX.

  11. Wafaa Elmenayer Guest

    Great news and I’m just worried about the price

  12. Maysa Diab Guest

    Egypt air is one of the best airline we as a big family travel all over the world in it..they have amazing staff..you are the best Egypt air.

  13. TAWFIK Selim Guest

    First, Congratulations for the new route.
    Second,wish to put Seattle and LA in Egyptair future plan as these two destination are concerning too many passengers
    Thanks

  14. iamhere Guest

    I wonder if they will reduce their operations at JFK as a result because of the connectivity at EWR.

  15. Matt Guest

    Having now been to Cairo I'll do everything possible to avoid these or any other EgyptAir flights. Miserable airport experience....

    1. ConcordeBoy Diamond

      Was kinda fun/crazy to go through security twice, before even getting airside, and then doing a third security+emigration on top of that.

  16. EMIL KHEIR Guest

    Why EgyptAir do not add a direct flights to Los Angeles CALIFORNIA where another big Egyptian community live in and around LAX so that will save them time and expense .

  17. Rania Guest

    We need the old LAX to Cairo route restored. There’s many travelers from the west coast to Cairo. If timed well, it could be a competitive route to destinations in Africa.

  18. Ahmed Guest

    Great idea I was wondering when it will happen, I hope the airfare will be reasonable so we don't have to fly out of jfk again.

  19. Moustafa Guest

    Instead of Newark should fly to Los Angeles
    There’s a lot of Egyptian and Arab waiting for this route

    1. shoeguy Guest

      They once operated from LAX, via JFK, to CAI, didn't they? At the time, the plane was a 767 and obviously didn't have the range to do LAX-CAI nonstop.

    2. ConcordeBoy Diamond

      Correct.

      The Creepy MS990 flight in October 2000, where Egypt still won't admit that the relief officer committed suicide (even though they had already told him he'd be fired and stripped of his impending benefits at age 59, after this last flight!) and killed 216 others...... was LAX-JFK-CAI.

  20. Jordan Diamond

    Eqyptair does just fine with O&D to/from JFK. But I'm sure there is lots of DL and B6 or AA on separate tickets connecting to other carriers...something that people on here feel does not happen. Not everyone is booking within one alliance.

    Perhaps IAD O&D is so strong, that they would rather route connections over EWR? CLEARLY JFK is fine, and they see lots of opportunities to stimulate demand via EWR.

  21. ECR Gold

    First world problem, I get it. But for NYC based flyers this timing is kinda brutal. Have long wished the JFK flights left at night like European flights... Believe they were around 5pm, meaning I'd have to take a half day at work (not the end of the world but whatever). Now JFK and EWR both seem to depart for CAI around noon, so would have to take full day and then land in CAI super early. Not ideal!

    1. ECR Guest

      I guess I should’ve clarified. I accept Ben’s point that this flight is well timed for connections beyond Newark, so good for all those who benefit. Not sure how many are connecting beyond Cairo (more options is always great, but than you’re competing with Turkish and a number of other competitive products…)

  22. RCB Guest

    I was trying to book Egyptair yesterday from Cairo to Dulles but couldn't find a business class seat on the day I needed, so I grabbed a seat on the Cairo to JFK flight instead. I knew the Dulles flight was a Dreamliner with reverse herringbone seats and assumed JFK was as well, but after booking the flight (via phone, I couldn't book online and see the plane ahead of time) I realized it's the...

    I was trying to book Egyptair yesterday from Cairo to Dulles but couldn't find a business class seat on the day I needed, so I grabbed a seat on the Cairo to JFK flight instead. I knew the Dulles flight was a Dreamliner with reverse herringbone seats and assumed JFK was as well, but after booking the flight (via phone, I couldn't book online and see the plane ahead of time) I realized it's the really old, disgusting 777 with 7 seats across in business class without full recline, so I immediately cancelled the flight. It's one thing to go out of my way to JFK on a nice flight, but to go out of my way for a terrible product was a no-go for me. Glad to see the EWR flight will be on the Dreamliner.

    1. JB Guest

      JFK-CAI is currently operated by Egyptair's 787-9, but it may be changing later on, likely in the summer as there will be more demand for this flight (as schools will be out)

  23. JB Guest

    If they expand to a new North American market, I think Chicago (ORD) would be most likely. Then maybe LAX or SFO.

    1. Alec Guest

      Where is anyone going that they can’t get through IST or DXB? So hopefully some cheap fares coming from this

    2. WB Guest

      It's very convenient for those flying to/from Egypt, and for those with status with Egyptair. The carrier also has pretty good fares, so that's how they fill up their planes. Many people value a nonstop flight and/or flying with their national carrier.

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Julia Guest

How is it a first world problem?

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Alec Guest

Where is anyone going that they can’t get through IST or DXB? So hopefully some cheap fares coming from this

1
Magdi Noaman Guest

It wiil be great idea if one or two of those three flight will go to Alexandria . This will be great for all people in Egypt Northen cities. All Flights from JFK go to Cairo. None to Alexandria

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