…not actually, but that’s what the airport seems to think it’s doing.
Last week I wrote about how I consider Cairo International Airport (CAI) to be the worst major airport in the world. That’s just my opinion, and I shared the reasons that I feel that way.
As it turns out, the government of Egypt isn’t happy about that, with this apparently having made headlines in Egypt, and the Minister of Aviation calling my claims baseless, and even threatening to take legal action against me for spreading misinformation.
The Egyptian government has now published a full story refuting my claims, and posted CCTV footage of me at the airport, to prove that I’m lying, and that my claims are baseless. The government is even arguing that I traveled to Cairo exclusively to tarnish the reputation of the airport. Anyway, grab some popcorn…
The claims I made about Cairo Airport
To start, let’s talk about the claims that I actually made, rather than what the government is fabricating. On November 11, 2024, I published a post entitled “Cairo Airport: Is There A Worse Major Airport?”
As the title suggests, I posed the question of whether there’s a worse major international airport in the world, because based on my own travel experiences, I haven’t been to one. Now, I didn’t quantify what exactly constitutes “major” (my bad), though my thought was an airport that’s a hub for a fairly large airline, and/or which gets tens of millions of passengers per year. For what it’s worth, in the comments section, more people agreed with me than disagreed with me.
My four primary arguments about the airport were as follows (and I expand on each one in the initial post, so check that out):
- Cairo Airport staff are rude, unhelpful, and distracted
- There are endless requests for tips
- There’s zero order among passengers
- There’s nothing redeeming about the facilities
Let me emphasize a couple of points:
- My judgment of the airport wasn’t based on a single visit to the airport, but rather was based on a countless number of visits to the airport over the years; if something was specific to my most recent visit, I noted it as such in the post
- Nowhere did I say that Cairo Airport has incredibly long queues, but rather I just said that there’s no order at the airport, and that the friendliness of the staff leaves a lot to be desired
Statement from Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation
I guess I should be flattered by just how much effort the Egyptian government has put into disproving my claims, as they’ve dug up CCTV footage tracking my every movement at the airport. To the airport’s credit, I’m impressed that all the cameras seem to work correctly!
When I heard that the Minister of Aviation planned to publish a video of me at the airport, I was excited to see it, as I wondered what their “evidence” would be. I have a clear conscience, because I’m an honest guy, and I’m not even looking to stir up any drama. So I was looking forward to seeing what they’d come up with.
What’s in the video? The airport posted a seven minute video of me in various parts of the airport. Creepiness aside, I’m not sure what exactly this is supposed to prove? Like, I’d understand this if the claim they were refuting was that I was never at the airport, but what does this prove, exactly? Unsurprisingly, this excludes the less pleasant parts of my experience.
But it gets much better than that. The Minister of Aviation has published a play-by-play summary of my time at the airport, and is basically writing my trip report for me. Let me just share that below in its entirety, and then I’ll respond.
“The Minister of Civil Aviation has directed a thorough investigation into the claims made, instructing a review of the airport’s surveillance footage. This allowed authorities to track the passenger’s journey step by step — from his arrival at Cairo International Airport on his first flight from Italy to his departure to his hotel, and then his second flight later that same day from Cairo to Addis Ababa.”
“The Ministry added this statement presents a clear and accurate account of the situation, taking into consideration the passenger’s reported difficulties during his travel experience.”
“The passenger arrived at Terminal 2 of Cairo International Airport on November 10, 2024, on ITA Airways flight No. AZ896 from Rome, landing at 16:50. The time from his arrival until his departure from the terminal was approximately 18 minutes — a remarkably quick processing time by international standards.”
“The Ministry noted that finalizing the procedures in this time reflects the efficiency and smoothness of the airport’s arrival procedures, as well as the flexibility of movement within the terminal. Afterward, the passenger proceeded to the Le Méridien Hotel, where he stayed for about five hours.”
“Later that same day, the passenger returned to Terminal 3 at Cairo International Airport for his onward journey. He was booked on Ethiopian Airlines flight No. ET453 to Addis Ababa, which departed at 2:50 am on November 11. His experience at the first checkpoint took approximately one minute. He then proceeded to the airline counter to complete his travel procedures, which took around 8 minutes. It’s important to note that these procedures are handled by the airline, not the airport, and are outside the airport’s direct control, the ministry continued.”
“The passenger then proceeded to the passport control counter, which took just one minute, further confirming the smooth and efficient flow of passengers within the airport. This contrasts with the passenger’s claims of chaos and disorder, which he suggested made him uncomfortable.”
“It is also worth noting that the passenger did not have any luggage, only a handbag and a small backpack. This contradicts his claims of being harassed by airport staff requesting a tip for helping carry his bags.”
“The passenger then visited two lounges in the departure hall. First, he went to Lounge 2, and later to Lounge E, where he had a drink, used his laptop, and stayed for about an hour. Afterward, he moved to Lounge G, where he had dinner and spent approximately 30 minutes. This indicates that the majority of his waiting time at the airport was spent enjoying the services offered by these lounges, which are known for their high quality.”
“This raises the question: Is it reasonable for a passenger to visit two lounges before a single flight? Additionally, before leaving Lounge G, the passenger used the lounge’s bathroom without any reported issues or harassment from staff. Furthermore, an important detail undermining the passenger’s claims is that the photo of the bathroom he posted does not correspond to the bathroom he used at Lounge G.”
“Regarding the passenger’s complaint about tipping, Cairo International Airport’s policies strongly contradict these claims. There are clear ‘NO TIPS’ signage throughout the airport, along with a dedicated complaint number to report any inappropriate behavior by staff. It’s important to note that no complaints were received from the passenger during his time at the airport.”
“As for the reported smell of cigarette smoke, the airport has designated smoking areas, and smoking is prohibited in all other areas. This practice is consistent with global airport standards.”
“Upon arriving at the departure hall (Gate G4), the passenger spent approximately 30 minutes standing at the gate entrance, seemingly with no specific reason for his prolonged stay. This behavior suggests his intention to observe and highlight any potential issues to report later.”
“Once inside the hall, instead of using available seating, he chose to stand for another 30 minutes by a window, taking pictures with his mobile phone of various scenes in the terminal. This suggests he was looking for negative details to publicize, potentially distorting the reality of the situation.”
“Regarding his earlier post about the security procedures at Cairo International Airport, the Ministry confirms that the security measures followed at the airport adhere to international standards for safety and security. There is also ongoing and effective coordination with all relevant agencies at the airport to ensure smooth operations and the highest level of service for passengers.”
“The passenger also criticized Cairo International Airport employees as being aggressive and unfriendly, which is unsupported by the camera footage. The passenger did not have any direct interactions with staff in the arrivals or departures halls. Furthermore, he was met by a hotel representative, as per his request, upon arrival, which contradicts his claims of mistreatment, chaos, or disorganization at the airport.”
“The Ministry affirmed that the accusations made against Cairo International Airport employees are unjustified and without basis. ‘These allegations, which lack any tangible evidence, serve only to damage the reputation of the airport staff and tarnish the reputation of Cairo International Airport itself. It is clear that these misleading claims are designed to harm both the airport’s image and the standing of its workers, without any factual support,’ the Ministry said.”
Furthermore, the passenger’s brief visit to Egypt, lasting less than five hours, was not for tourism or any official purpose, but rather appeared to be aimed at undermining Cairo Airport, the ministry continued.
“‘Cairo International Airport is Egypt’s and Africa’s primary gateway, with a nearly 4-star rating and a place among the top 10 airports in Africa, according to the Skytrax evaluation in February 2024. Skytrax, a UK-based company specializing in airport and airline star rankings, conducts independent surveys to gauge customer satisfaction worldwide,’ the Ministry said.”
“The Ministry of Aviation also wished to emphasize that it welcomes constructive criticism that helps improve the quality of services for travelers. However, it strongly rejects any unfounded, destructive accusations that seek to damage the efforts and reputation of the airport’s dedicated staff, especially when they are not based on verified facts.”
“Cairo International Airport staff undergo continuous professional training to ensure that all travelers receive the highest standards of service, comfort, and safety, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said, urging media outlets and social media users to verify the accuracy and objectivity of any information before publishing.
‘We strongly discourage the spread of false claims or misleading rumors that could damage the reputation of Egypt’s civil aviation sector,’ the Ministry added.
“The Ministry will take all necessary legal action against those who attempt to harm the credibility and reputation of the civil aviation sector through unfounded allegations.”
Responding to Egypt’s allegations against me
Rather than taking what I have to say as constructive feedback, or even just ignoring it, Egypt’s Minister of Aviation is instead bringing more attention to this, and is making up baseless accusations. There’s nothing like claiming that someone else is making up baseless accusations, only to respond by… making baseless accusations.
I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised on their stance — there’s no room for improvement, but rather if you have anything bad to say about the airport, you must be wrong, and should face legal action.
Egypt’s claims about me at the airport fall into one of three categories:
- They’re accurate, but don’t contradict anything I claimed
- They assume that my claims about the airport are based on a single visit, when I made it clear that my impression is based on many visits (and I’ve written about my experiences at the airport many times over the years)
- They’re just downright inaccurate, and baseless conspiracy theories
So let me respond to the key claims that Egypt makes. As you’d expect, since I was clearly tracked step-by-step, the timeline provided by the government of my movement is accurate. I’ll stick to the main highlights, but if there’s anything I miss, feel free to ask me in the comments section, because I’m an open book and have nothing to hide.
“The time from his arrival until his departure from the terminal was approximately 18 minutes — a remarkably quick processing time by international standards.”
“The Ministry noted that finalizing the procedures in this time reflects the efficiency and smoothness of the airport’s arrival procedures, as well as the flexibility of movement within the terminal. Afterward, the passenger proceeded to the Le Méridien Hotel, where he stayed for about five hours.”
Right, so I never claimed that the arrivals process took a long time. Also, it’s kind of hilarious that the government claims that my arrivals experience highlights “the efficiency and smoothness of the airport’s arrival procedure.”
Do they want to share video footage of how I actually got through immigration? The Le Meridien Cairo Airport sent a meet and greet service for me, and I entirely skipped the immigration line, thanks to the escort just walking in front of everyone, and shaking the immigration officer’s hand. And then of course we stopped at the ATM machine on the way out of the airport. I’m not sure that really highlights the airport’s efficiency, and how user friendly it is for everyone? Regardless, this doesn’t contradict any claim I made, and if anything, supports it.
“The passenger then proceeded to the passport control counter, which took just one minute, further confirming the smooth and efficient flow of passengers within the airport. This contrasts with the passenger’s claims of chaos and disorder, which he suggested made him uncomfortable.”
Again, my claim was that staff at the airport were rude, unhelpful, and distracted. I didn’t claim there was a long line at the passport control counter.
“It is also worth noting that the passenger did not have any luggage, only a handbag and a small backpack. This contradicts his claims of being harassed by airport staff requesting a tip for helping carry his bags.”
So if Egyptian authorities don’t believe that those people “helping” with bags at the initial security checks are asking for tips, well, then they are really choosing to look the other way and ignore reality.
“The passenger then visited two lounges in the departure hall. First, he went to Lounge 2, and later to Lounge E, where he had a drink, used his laptop, and stayed for about an hour. Afterward, he moved to Lounge G, where he had dinner and spent approximately 30 minutes. This indicates that the majority of his waiting time at the airport was spent enjoying the services offered by these lounges, which are known for their high quality.”
“This raises the question: Is it reasonable for a passenger to visit two lounges before a single flight?”
Goodness, the Egyptian government is just coming up with new blog post ideas for me. “Is it reasonable for a passenger to visit two lounges before a single flight?” What a scandal! For the record, I first visited a lounge near the security checkpoint, and then when I got bored there, I headed to a lounge closer to my departure gate.
“Additionally, before leaving Lounge G, the passenger used the lounge’s bathroom without any reported issues or harassment from staff. Furthermore, an important detail undermining the passenger’s claims is that the photo of the bathroom he posted does not correspond to the bathroom he used at Lounge G.”
Right, so I wrote about an awkward lounge bathroom encounter, and in it, I posted a picture of a urinal. That urinal was from a lounge in Cairo Airport — it was taken during a previous visit, as were all the pictures I posted of Cairo Airport in that post. I never claimed otherwise.
“Regarding the passenger’s complaint about tipping, Cairo International Airport’s policies strongly contradict these claims. There are clear “NO TIPS” signage throughout the airport, along with a dedicated complaint number to report any inappropriate behavior by staff. It’s important to note that no complaints were received from the passenger during his time at the airport.”
Yeah, I mean this is where you know authorities lose all credibility, and where they’re really grasping at straws. Their defense is that no one at the airport ever asks for tips? Even the people who were disagreeing with me and saying Cairo Airport isn’t so bad agreed on this point, saying that’s just how stuff works in Egypt.
And of course I didn’t file a formal complaint about staff asking for tips, because… that’s just how stuff works in Egypt!
“Upon arriving at the departure hall (Gate G4), the passenger spent approximately 30 minutes standing at the gate entrance, seemingly with no specific reason for his prolonged stay. This behavior suggests his intention to observe and highlight any potential issues to report later.”
Hah. For those not familiar with Cairo Airport Terminal 3, security is at each individual gate, and it’s not always entirely clear when a gate area opens. So yes, I was near the entrance to the gate area, as were dozens of other people who were also on my flight.
“Once inside the hall, instead of using available seating, he chose to stand for another 30 minutes by a window, taking pictures with his mobile phone of various scenes in the terminal. This suggests he was looking for negative details to publicize, potentially distorting the reality of the situation.”
I just pulled up my camera roll from the gate area, and I had exactly two pictures saved, and you can find them below.
I review airlines, and I always try to have a picture of the gate area in my reviews, and this was no exception. Is there anything scandalous here? Nope. Did I stand in the gate area rather than taking a seat? Absolutely. As y’all know, I try to be the first to board flights, so that I can get good pictures of the cabin without people in them. Do you think I would’ve gotten proper cabin pictures of the Ethiopian Airlines Airbus A350 if I took a seat in the back of the gate area? Nope, and that had nothing to do with Cairo Airport.
“The passenger also criticized Cairo International Airport employees as being aggressive and unfriendly, which is unsupported by the camera footage. The passenger did not have any direct interactions with staff in the arrivals or departures halls.”
The claim is that I didn’t interact with any staff? Right, I scanned my own bags at security, gave myself a pat down, checked my own tickets at the entrance to the airport, and scanned my own boarding pass upon entering the gate area. This doesn’t even make sense! Even beyond that, let me emphasize that my impression of staff at Cairo Airport is based on countless visits over the years, and not based on a single visit.
Furthermore, the passenger’s brief visit to Egypt, lasting less than five hours, was not for tourism or any official purpose, but rather appeared to be aimed at undermining Cairo Airport, the ministry continued.
That’s right, I traveled to Cairo Airport exclusively to be able to undermine the airport… not because the airport is known for its good premium fares, as I’ve written about several times. Honestly what a ridiculous and baseless claim. Even though I literally explain why I travel through the airport, authorities instead come to the bizarre conclusion that I traveled just to undermine the airport?!
“‘Cairo International Airport is Egypt’s and Africa’s primary gateway, with a nearly 4-star rating and a place among the top 10 airports in Africa, according to the Skytrax evaluation in February 2024. Skytrax, a UK-based company specializing in airport and airline star rankings, conducts independent surveys to gauge customer satisfaction worldwide,’ the Ministry said.”
To be clear, by “nearly 4-star rating” they actually mean 3-star rating. I mean, that’s like Air Koryo claiming a “nearly 2-star rating.” Oh, and we care about the independent takes on the Cairo Airport experience at Skytrax, right? Well, the airport has a 3/10 rating there, with the most recent review being titled “it’s awful every time,” and reading as follows (and no, this wasn’t me!):
Cairo airport has to be one of the most backwards and ridiculous airports in the world. I’ve travelled here countless times and it’s awful every time, whether you’re arriving or departing. The staff are horrid, the services are nonexistent, and the airport facilities are archaic. If you’re arriving, expect a ridiculous queue for visa, another ridiculous queue for passport control then, for no reason, a queue and security scanner on your way out, where twice now my bag has been damaged by staff. Let’s not mention the taxi trolls on your exit out of the building. If departing, give yourself an extra hour as there is a security measure and scan upon entry into the terminal building, before checking in. Where they’ve destroyed my laptop and broken my bag historically also. Have your passport and your ticket in your hand here, even though there’s no sign or information you need to have it outside your bag. Then expect a queue again and check in and for you to be stressed about missing your flight. Then you’ll get questioned by passport control on your way out. After wasting your time at the most awful outlets, you’ll go to your gate and have another security round where they’ll shout at you, and take all the liquids you just brought in the airport. They’ll then pen you in the gate area with no water, nothing, except one toilet.
I think the government needs to go after everyone not leaving a perfect review of the airport, because obviously they’re just making things up.
Bottom line
The Egyptian government is giving a masterclass in how not to respond to online criticism, especially at the same time that the country is trying to greatly grow its tourism industry. I shared my subjective take on why I believe Cairo Airport is the worst major airport in the world, based on my own experiences. I didn’t claim it was a fact, and I gave others the opportunity to share their opinions. Some people agreed with me, and others disagreed with me. Unlike Egyptian government officials, I respect everyone’s take.
The airport responded by posting CCTV footage of me (which proves nothing), claiming that no one at the airport would ever ask for tips, arguing that the purpose of my trip to Cairo was to tarnish the reputation of the airport, and even threatening me with legal action for spreading misinformation.
Like I said, I’ve been doing this a long time. While I know that Egypt isn’t exactly the most progressive country in the world, I wasn’t expecting this level of response to a simple blog post with a take on an airport. It makes me grateful to live in the United States, where I can at least criticize my home airport without fear of punishment.
If any other media wants to cover this situation but wants more details, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]. The same applies to any Egyptian officials — I’m happy to have a constructive conversation, and would love for the airport to improve.
What do you make of this saga?