After checking out three different EgyptAir lounges at Cairo International Airport, it was time to head over to Gate F5 for the main event: EgyptAir’s inaugural nonstop flight from Cairo to Los Angeles.

This was flight MS983 on May 23, 2026, operated by one of EgyptAir’s brand-new Airbus A350-900s. At launch, the route was scheduled to operate three times weekly, and its roughly 7,600-mile journey made it the longest route in EgyptAir’s network. It was also a particularly fitting showcase for the A350, which had only joined the airline’s fleet a few months earlier.

EgyptAir’s first A350 arrived in February 2026, making the airline the type’s launch operator in North Africa. EgyptAir has 16 of the aircraft on order, and the cabin is configured with 30 business class suites and 310 economy class seats.

Needless to say, I was excited to see how the airline’s newest aircraft, and its newest business class product, would perform on such a major inaugural flight.

The Inaugural Festivities

There was no mistaking that this was a special flight. The gate area had been decorated for the occasion, and EgyptAir had set up a commemorative display marking the first MS983 service to Los Angeles.

Celebration balloons and other decorations were on display. I always appreciate it when an airline makes an inaugural feel like an actual event rather than treating it as just another departure.

Boarding EgyptAir’s A350 Business Class

Boarding soon began, and I stepped aboard EgyptAir’s new A350 for the first time. The 30-seat business class cabin is laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration, giving every passenger direct aisle access.

The window seats are angled toward the window, and the middle seats are angled toward each other in the center of the cabin. My seat 8A was the first seat in the cabin. 

The cabin looked sharp and contemporary, with neutral finishes accented by EgyptAir’s blue branding. The high suite walls and sliding doors also gave each seat a welcome sense of privacy.

Waiting at my seat was a pillow created especially for the Los Angeles inaugural. It was a small touch, but exactly the sort of detail that made the flight feel distinctive. EgyptAir had placed several other commemorative items at the seat, including a menu designed for the inaugural flight and a small Egyptian-themed gift pouch.

Settling Into Seat 8A

There was a round of pre departure beverages which included kiwi juice, water, or orange juice and I definitely went for the kiwi juice. As a reminder, EgyptAir is a dry airline, so you won’t find any alcoholic beverages on the menu at all.

I also had the chance to take a photo with the captain before departure, which was another memorable part of the inaugural experience. For the record, this isn’t just your average everyday captain. This is Captain Mohammed Alyan, who is the chairman and CEO of EgyptAir, who is also an A350 captain, which is super cool, and you don’t see this in too many other airlines. I’m sure there are other examples, but the only one that comes to mind otherwise is the CEO of Starlux, who is also an Airbus captain .

Now, looking more closely at the seat, we had a nice and big console on the side with plenty of storage within. 

The suite included a broad side console, a reading light within easy reach, and several small storage areas. A bottle of water had its own compartment alongside the seat.

Departing Cairo

With boarding complete, we pushed back and began our taxi through Cairo International Airport. There was plenty of EgyptAir traffic to see along the way before we lined up for takeoff.

Seat Features and Entertainment

Once we were in the air, I took a closer look at the suite. The seat controls were intuitive and included several preset positions, along with individual adjustments.

The sliding door could be closed once airborne, turning the already private seat into a more enclosed personal space.

The entertainment screen was large and clear, and its interface included a decent selection of movies, television programs, and music.

The Menu

EgyptAir offered a flexible “Dine As You Like” service, allowing business class passengers to choose when they wanted to eat during the flight.

The breakfast menu included a plain omelet, scrambled eggs with beef kofta, and French toast. A separate light-snack section offered a tuna sandwich, grilled halloumi and pesto sandwich, chicken shawarma wrap, and soup.

For the main meal, the starters included an herb-and-garlic-crusted beef fillet or a selection of oriental appetizers with hummus, baba ghanouj, and stuffed vine leaves. The main-course choices were beef tenderloin, roasted turkey, grilled salmon, and spinach tortellini.

I liked that the oriental appetizer platter and dessert brought some regional character to the meal. However, especially on a milestone flight departing Egypt, I wish at least one of the main courses had showcased Egyptian cuisine. An airline’s food is one of the easiest ways to express its heritage, and this felt like a missed opportunity.

Lavatory, Amenity Kit, and Wi-Fi

The business class lavatory was clean and included several additional amenities for the long flight.

EgyptAir also provided an amenity kit containing the usual long-haul essentials. They also had pajamas on this special long haul flight which was super neat, and they were incredibly comfortable.

The A350 was equipped with Wi-Fi. Messaging and voice messages were complimentary for the entire flight, while passengers could also receive two hours of free browsing, voice calls, and email. Paid data packages were priced at $16 for 300 MB and $26 for 500 MB.

Breakfast

For my first meal, I chose the scrambled eggs with beef kofta, roasted potato wedges, mushrooms, and grilled tomato. The tray also arrived with fresh fruit, yogurt, breads, and preserves.

The breakfast was quite tasty. The eggs, the kofta, and the tomatoes together were all really good.  it was an excellent way to start the flight.

 Yogurt can be a mixed bag on flights because sometimes they claim it’s nonfat or without any added sugar, but that’s really not the case. In this case, I decided to try a bite.

Midflight

The great thing about a daylight westbound flight is that there is usually plenty to see outside. We passed over some beautiful terrain and eventually reached a few storms we were flying around.  

As I was also finished with the meal, I asked for some sparkling water, and the crew brought it with a small bowl of mixed nuts. Anytime I asked for a beverage refill, they always brought it with mixed nuts, which was a bit strange. I appreciate the gesture, but this seems like a waste because most of the time I really did not want it, and it could have been kept or saved.

When it was time to rest, the seat converted into a fully flat bed. Between the enclosed shell, privacy door, and window-side position, 8A felt nicely separated from the aisle.

Later in the flight, I ordered the tuna sandwich from the light-snack menu. This was quite good. Each bite felt like I was getting a large chunk of bread, but wherever I did get tuna, I got a mouthful of flavor. 

Main Meal

Eventually a little before arrival into LAX, the second full meal service began. I eventually ordered the main meal, beginning with the oriental appetizer selection, salad, and bread.

The oriental appetizers consisted of hummus, baba ghanouj, and stuffed vine leaves. This was the part of the menu that most clearly reflected EgyptAir’s home region.

For my main course, I chose the grilled salmon, which came with wild basmati rice and vegetables. It was quite tasty. 

Dessert included fresh fruit and a selection of oriental sweets.

Everything I ate was delicious. I was especially happy to see some local dishes from bakeries on the ground in  Cairo. 

Arrival in Los Angeles

After crossing North America, we finally began our descent into Southern California. It had been a long flight, but the arrival carried a little extra excitement given the significance of the new route.

Bottom Line

EgyptAir’s inaugural Cairo–Los Angeles flight was a memorable way to experience the airline’s newest aircraft and newest business class product. The A350 suite itself made a strong first impression: every passenger had direct aisle access, seat 8A offered excellent privacy, the door made the space feel even more secluded, and the fully flat bed was well suited to a journey of this length.

The inaugural touches at the gate and onboard also made the occasion feel special. From the decorations and cake to the Los Angeles pillow, commemorative menu, and gift, EgyptAir put real effort into marking the launch.

My biggest menu criticism was the lack of an Egyptian main course. The oriental appetizers and sweets were welcome, but a signature Egyptian entrée would have been particularly appropriate on an inaugural flight from Cairo, and would have given EgyptAir another opportunity to showcase its heritage.]

Even with that missed opportunity, this was a fascinating flight and a major addition to EgyptAir’s network. A nonstop link between Cairo and Los Angeles is ambitious, and the quiet, comfortable A350 is exactly the right aircraft for it. I was very glad to have been aboard for day one.