Travelers from the US who have always dreamed of descending into a pyramid and visiting the land of the pharaohs are about to have even more chances to make that dream come true. EgyptAir, Egypt’s national airline, just filed plans to launch two new nonstop flights to Cairo from Los Angeles and Chicago, starting in 2026. According to the documents, the Los Angeles flight will start in May, followed by the Chicago flight in June. The cities will be the fifth and sixth gateway cities from North America, joining New York City, Toronto, Washington, DC (launched in 2019), and Newark (launched in 2023).
Though it’s not as well known within the US as other international airlines, EgyptAir has been in the US market since the 1980s and is currently the only airline offering nonstop service between Egypt and the US. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is a new destination for the airline, though the Los Angeles flight is technically not brand new, as it flew to LAX prior to 2001. The return of direct flights to Egypt via LAX after more than 20 years will streamline the trip for West Coasters, eliminating lengthy stops in destinations like Frankfurt or Dubai. It will be the airline’s longest flight, covering 7,606 miles over roughly 16 hours.
The new flights will help many US passengers avoid lengthy layovers in crowded airports like Frankfurt. Photo: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock
In 2019, Los Angeles and Chicago were among the top five most popular departure points for trips to Cairo, according to AirlineGeeks, and Chicago’s large Middle Eastern and African communities could provide a solid base of customers who frequently fly between the two countries. However, the choice of Los Angeles and Chicago could also be tied to the airline’s participation in Star Alliance, anchored by United Airlines in the US. O’Hare is a major hub for United, making for easy connections from other cities in the US.
Why travel to Egypt may be booming in 2026 and beyond
Inside the new Grand Egyptian Museum. Photo: Tamer A Soliman/Shutterstock
Egypt’s ancient wonders may be eternal, but there are plenty of new draws planned for the country in 2026 and beyond. In late 2025 or early 2026, the massive Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza is finally set to open. It’s just outside of Cairo with views of the pyramids. At more than five million square feet, it will be the largest archaeology museum in the world. It was built to house the complete collection of treasures from King Tutankhamun’s tomb (roughly 5,000 artifacts), and will have nearly 100,000 total artifacts on display from ancient Egypt.
Well-known tourism and hotel brands are also expanding into Egypt. Uniworld recently launched new Egypt itineraries and ships, and Viking announced plans to have a dozen ships on the Nile by 2027. The Waldorf-Astoria brand plans to introduce a luxury Nile cruise in late 2026, the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences is expected to open in Cairo in 2027, and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) already announced future hotel developments in Cairo.
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New adventure resorts along Egypt’s Red Sea are opening on an ongoing basis as well. That includes the government-supported “Marassi Red Sea” project, an $18 billion development near Hurghada that will have private beaches, luxury hotels, and floating tourism offerings. The Red Sea’s reputation for clear water and healthy shark populations have continued to attract divers, especially given the relative affordability of liveaboard (multi-day) scuba diving boats.
More than 15.7 million tourists visited Egypt in 2024, surpassing the previous record of 13.9 million, set the year before.
What to do in Cairo
Photo: MEDIAIMAG/Shutterstock
If you’re an American visiting Cairo for the first time, get ready for a mix of ancient wonder, chaotic streets, and sensory overload. If you fly into Cairo, you’ll probably want to start around the Giza Plateau. One full day is usually enough to see the main sites like the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, and the Sphinx. You can visit on your own but tours are usually recommended, and full-day guides are fairly affordable (around $80 or so). Once the new museum opens, you’ll likely want to set aside a full day to explore that from top to bottom. There are tons of affordable Airbnbs around the pyramids, locally owned guest houses and B&Bs, and even luxury resorts from well-known international brands.
From Cairo, it’s only about one hour to Saqqara, where you can tour the 4,000-year-old Tomb of Mehu and see the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt’s oldest pyramid. If you don’t mind a quick flight (about an hour) you can head to Luxor, home of the famous “Valley of the Kings.” On the East Bank are the Luxor Temple, the small-but-packed Luxor Museum, and the Karnak Temple Complex, dedicated to Egyptian god of creation Amun-Ra. The West Bank is where you’ll find the resting places of Ramses VI and King Tut in the Valley of the Kings, as well as the Temple of Hatshepsut and the 60-foot-tall Colossi of Memnon.
Visitors can go inside the tomb of Ramses V and VI Photo: Sergii Figurnyi/Shutterstock
If you’re up for a bit of relaxation, you’ll find lots of hot-air balloon tours, modern restaurants in major cities, and posh resorts in Red Sea towns like Sharm El-Sheikh. Or for a true once-in-a-lifetime experience, consider doing a multi-day cruise on the Nile — some cruise companies even have on-board Egyptologists for guests eager to learn as much as possible about the fascinating country.
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