EgyptAir is preparing to expand in the US with two brand new nonstop services between Cairo and Los Angeles (LAX) and Chicago (ORD). The news made by the airline has brought excitement to travelers especially to those who want to have direct links between the West Coast of the U.S. and North Africa.

These new services will be added to the expanding international list of EgyptAir, and will be alongside the current destinations of North America that include New York, Newark, Toronto and Washington. To the passengers, this growth implies additional choices, the state-of-the-art aircraft, and an opportunity to visit Egypt and other destinations without having to connect flights.

Starting Dates and Flight Schedule

EgyptAir has already announced the timetables of the new routes, and the flights would start in the middle of 2026.

EgyptAir will be operating flights between Cairo to Los Angeles (LAX) starting May 23rd, 2026, three days a week. Flight MS983 is going to leave Cairo at 8:30 AM and will reach Los Angeles at 1:20 PM. The flight MS984 will involve a departure Los Angeles 5:25 PM and arriving at Cairo the next day, 5:10 PM.

This journey spans a distance of 7, 605 miles, the longest route as of today of EgyptAir. Block times are 14 hours and 50 minutes westbound, and 13 hours and 45 minutes eastbound. The flights will be on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

On the 21st of June, 2026, EgyptAir will initiate flights between the cities of Cairo and Chicago (ORD) and will have a weekly departure of three flights. Flight MS947 is going to leave Cairo at 12:50 AM and reach Chicago at 5:15 AM. The flight back to Chicago, MS948, will depart in Chicago, at 10:30 AM and will land in Cairo the next day at 5:40 AM.

The 6,148-mile line has a block time of 12 hours and 25 minutes in the westbound and 11 hours and 10 minutes in the eastbound directions and runs on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Current Airplane and Cabin Interior

In these new routes of the United States, EgyptAir will use their new Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which will have the newest cabin products and technology. The A350 aircraft continuous will accommodate 340 passengers with 30 business-class and 310 economy-class seats.

These planes have business class seating in the form of reverse herringbone with doors, which are more comfortable and offer better privacy to long-haul passengers. Although the hard product of EgyptAir is competitive, certain service and in-flight facilities are still changing.

This growth will see the long-haul service between Cairo being significantly upgraded with the A350 providing better efficiency, cabin comfort and modern travel experience to the passengers travelling to both sides of the United States.

Strategic Fit in the Network of EgyptAir

Having included Los Angeles and Chicago, EgyptAir will have six routes to North America:

• New York (JFK)
• Newark (EWR)
• Toronto (YYZ)
• Washington (IAD)
• Chicago (ORD)
• Los Angeles (LAX)

The Chicago connection has good connectivity by the hub of United Airlines, and this affords the partners of the Star Alliance a chance to feed efficiently. The route to Los Angeles along the West Coast is a more difficult challenge, however.

Although Los Angeles is a large U.S. center having a rich passenger base, it lacks the Star Alliance links compared to East Coast. In addition, such ultra-long-haul flights are not only a costly endeavor, but also demand must be given serious consideration to demand, yield, and operating efficiency.

Evaluating the Potential of the Los Angeles Route

Not only is the CairoLos Angeles flight the longest of the Egyptian Airways fleet, but also a risky venture into the ultra-long-haul sector. Based on the analysis, analysts identify a number of factors that may influence its profitability:

The path is approximately two thousand miles longer than the New York flight which adds to fuel and operation expenses.

Los Angeles will experience less demand on traveling to Egypt and Africa than East Coast cities, such as New York, Washington, or Toronto.

The West Coast passengers can usually make an option through one stop due to the East Coast cities or Middle East with airlines like Emirates or Qatar Aireways.

Although Los Angeles is a hub of the United, there is low connectivity in general as compared to the East Coast airports.

With that said, there are observers who believe that the route can be driven in part by prestige and branding, which would make EgyptAir offer a carrier between major cities around the world, including Hollywood. In the past, state-owned airlines have sometimes introduced routes motivated by some strategic or symbolic purpose instead of simple profit motives.

Chicago Route: A Safer Bet

Contrarily, the EgyptianAir route of Cairo to Chicago is in tandem with its strategic objectives. Chicago is a large United airlines hub and offers a good feeder service to the Star alliance partners. The Midwestern travelers are advantaged by having easy access to the Cairo and 

further flights to Africa and Middle East.

This route route is more economical to be sustainable in the long run since the demand is constant and the traffic can be channeled effectively via an established network of alliances.

Passenger ramifications.

The introduction of these routes offers a number of benefits to the travelers:

Uninterrupted Convenience: West Coast and Midwest passengers do not have to spend much time in Europe or other hubs.

New Aircraft: The A350 also has a more quiet cabin, better in-flight entertainment and business class seating.

Expanding Network: These flights will be a complement to the current services of North America, with flights to six major airports across the U.S.

Customers are advised to consider long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights, such as Los Angeles-cairo flights, as they can be complex in terms of jet lag, on-board comfort, and food preferences.

Final Thoughts

The expansion of EgyptAir to the U.S is a bold move by the carrier. The Chicago path seems to make strategic sense and has capitalized on the Star Alliance connectivity and Midwest demand. The Los Angeles route, which might be difficult in terms of traffic and financial results, is an indication that EgyptAir wants to be more powerful in West Coast and be able to provide a real global service.

By mid-2026, the two routes will be on sale, which will provide the travelers with an opportunity to book tickets on the Airbus A350 fleet that the airline operates with a modern fleet. To these passengers who wish to travel directly between the U.S. and Cairo and further, such flights will offer new convenient ways of traveling to businesses, recreational and cultural destinations.