Manila to Cairo flight pathMNLCAI

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Pick the window seat with the view. 13,500 routes answered — landmarks, coastlines and cities, wing by wing.

Flight time11h 05m
Distance5,698
Heading299° → 258°

Manila to Cairo is 5,698 miles (9,169 km), a flight of about 11 hours 5 minutes.

Best side
LeftMostly left

While the right side wins at takeoff for Manila city views, the left side delivers more consistently across the full flight: it captures the South China Sea coastlines during the early cruise, the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal coast over Myanmar and Bangladesh, the Ganges plain, and crucially the best views of the Nile and Giza pyramids on approach into Cairo. The left side geography is simply more varied and dramatic across the 10-plus hour route.

Takeoff · MNLRIGHTLaguna de Bay, Manila city grid and Makati CBD, Manila Bay shoreline
Landing · CAILEFTGiza pyramid complex, Nile River and its delta fan, Cairo urban sprawl

Flight Path

Flight path overview

South China Sea and Vietnamese coastline in the first hour, overfly of the Malay Peninsula or Strait of Malacca depending on routing, Bay of Bengal and the Irrawaddy Delta of Myanmar, the Indo-Gangetic Plain of Bangladesh and eastern India, the Himalayas may appear on the northern horizon if routing goes via northern India, the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, Arabian Sea crossing, the Rub al Khali empty quarter of Saudi Arabia, and the Red Sea before entering Egyptian airspace over the Eastern Desert

Great circle distance and headings ›

Phase by phase

Aerial window seat view during takeoff from Manila (right side) — Laguna de Bay, Manila city grid and Makati CBD, Manila Bay shoreline, Cavite peninsula

Takeoff from MNL

RIGHT

NAIA's primary departure runway 06 sends aircraft northeast over Manila Bay on the left, but the right side captures the dense Manila cityscape, Laguna de Bay (one of Southeast Asia's largest lakes), and the Laguna highlands as the aircraft climbs and turns. Runway 24 departures heading southwest give the right side a clear view over Manila Bay and the Cavite coastline.

Laguna de BayManila city grid and Makati CBDManila Bay shorelineCavite peninsula
Aerial window seat view during landing at Cairo (left side) — Giza pyramid complex, Nile River and its delta fan, Cairo urban sprawl, Eastern Desert plateau edge

Landing at CAI

LEFT

Cairo International sits northeast of central Cairo, and aircraft typically approach from the northeast on runway 05L/05R or land heading southwest on 23L/23R. On approach from the northeast heading southwest, the left side faces southeast toward the Nile Delta's green agricultural fan spreading into the Mediterranean, while the right side gets the desert. On the more common ILS approach to 05, landing heading northeast, the left side captures the Nile Valley, the Cairo urban mass, and on clear days the Giza pyramids to the southwest.

Giza pyramid complexNile River and its delta fanCairo urban sprawlEastern Desert plateau edge

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About This Route

Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Ninoy Aquino International (MNL) to Cairo International (CAI)?

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Manila to Cairo. While the right side wins at takeoff for Manila city views, the left side delivers more consistently across the full flight: it captures the South China Sea coastlines during the early cruise, the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal coast over Myanmar and Bangladesh, the Ganges plain, and crucially the best views of the Nile and Giza pyramids on approach into Cairo. The left side geography is simply more varied and dramatic across the 10-plus hour route.

What can I see during takeoff from Ninoy Aquino International in Manila?

During takeoff from Ninoy Aquino International (MNL), sit on the Right side for the best views. NAIA's primary departure runway 06 sends aircraft northeast over Manila Bay on the left, but the right side captures the dense Manila cityscape, Laguna de Bay (one of Southeast Asia's largest lakes), and the Laguna highlands as the aircraft climbs and turns. Runway 24 departures heading southwest give the right side a clear view over Manila Bay and the Cavite coastline. Notable sights include: Laguna de Bay, Manila city grid and Makati CBD, Manila Bay shoreline, Cavite peninsula.

What can I see when landing at Cairo International in Cairo?

When landing at Cairo International (CAI), sit on the Left side for the best views. Cairo International sits northeast of central Cairo, and aircraft typically approach from the northeast on runway 05L/05R or land heading southwest on 23L/23R. On approach from the northeast heading southwest, the left side faces southeast toward the Nile Delta's green agricultural fan spreading into the Mediterranean, while the right side gets the desert. On the more common ILS approach to 05, landing heading northeast, the left side captures the Nile Valley, the Cairo urban mass, and on clear days the Giza pyramids to the southwest. Notable sights include: Giza pyramid complex, Nile River and its delta fan, Cairo urban sprawl, Eastern Desert plateau edge.

How long is the flight from Manila to Cairo?

The flight from Ninoy Aquino International (MNL) to Cairo International (CAI) takes about 11 hours 5 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 5,698 miles (9,169 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

What does the Manila to Cairo flight path pass over?

South China Sea and Vietnamese coastline in the first hour, overfly of the Malay Peninsula or Strait of Malacca depending on routing, Bay of Bengal and the Irrawaddy Delta of Myanmar, the Indo-Gangetic Plain of Bangladesh and eastern India, the Himalayas may appear on the northern horizon if routing goes via northern India, the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, Arabian Sea crossing, the Rub al Khali empty quarter of Saudi Arabia, and the Red Sea before entering Egyptian airspace over the Eastern Desert