Construction Begins on Africa’s Largest Airport in Ethiopia
Ethiopian Airlines has officially begun construction of a new $12.5 billion airport that is set to become the largest aviation hub in Africa when completed in 2030.
The state-owned airline launched the project on Saturday in Bishoftu, about 45 kilometres south-east of Addis Ababa. The new Bishoftu International Airport will feature four runways, parking space for 270 aircraft and a projected annual capacity of 110 million passengers.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali described the development as “the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa’s history”, noting that the new airport will have more than four times the capacity of Bole International Airport, Ethiopia’s current main gateway, which is expected to reach its limits within the next two to three years.
Ethiopian Airlines has been awarded the contract to design the airport and will fund about 30 per cent of the project, with the remainder financed by lenders. The African Development Bank has already committed $500 million and is leading efforts to mobilise up to $8.7 billion from international financiers.
According to Ethiopian Airlines’ Infrastructure Development and Planning Director, Abraham Tesfaye, the airline has allocated $610 million for earthworks, which are expected to be completed within a year. Main contractors are scheduled to begin construction in August 2026.
The project, initially estimated at $10 billion, has attracted strong interest from lenders in the Middle East, Europe, China and the United States.
Ethiopian Airlines remains Africa’s largest carrier and continues to expand its network, having added six new routes in the 2024/25 financial year alongside growing revenues.
Additional source: INDEPENDENT
