A transformative aviation project is underway in Ethiopia: the £4.5 billion Bishoftu International Airport, set to become the largest airport in Africa.
Image: Ethiopian Airlines
Located near the town of Bishoftu, approximately 28 miles southeast of the capital, Addis Ababa, the airport is expected to handle an astonishing 110 million passengers annually—far eclipsing any current facility on the continent.
Slated for completion by 2029, the project will dramatically reshape Ethiopia’s aviation sector and solidify the country’s status as a continental air travel leader.
Backed by Ethiopian Airlines and the African Development Bank (AfDB), the “mega airport” will feature four runways and a state-of-the-art terminal equipped with the latest aviation technology to ensure efficient passenger and cargo operations.
The design contract was awarded to Sidara, a Dubai-based engineering firm renowned for its forward-thinking and sustainable infrastructure. Their blueprints include renewable energy systems and advanced waste management solutions, aiming to minimise the airport’s environmental impact while maximising operational performance.
“The project will not only enhance connectivity but also drive economic growth and prioritise environmentally responsible practices in our country and beyond,” said Mesfin Tasew, Chief Executive of Ethiopian Airlines Group.
He added: “It is a five-year project [that] will be finalised in 2029. It will be the biggest in Africa. Phase one alone will cost at least $6 billion […] The money will come through loans and there are already companies that already showed interest.”
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The airport is designed to accommodate up to 270 aircraft, a significant leap from the current infrastructure at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, which faces limitations due to high altitude and capacity constraints.
Tariq Al-Qanni, Dar’s Director of Operations in Ethiopia, echoed the project’s importance: “We are privileged to be collaborating with Ethiopian Airlines on this visionary new airport, which will provide vital global air connectivity, accelerate economic growth in Ethiopia, and elevate Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s most strategic and most competitive aviation group.”
Originally announced in 2018, the airport forms part of Ethiopia’s long-term strategy to expand its aviation capacity in line with the airline’s rapid growth. Ethiopian Airlines served 17 million passengers in the 2023/2024 financial year and aims to reach 20 million in 2025.
By 2040, the new Bishoftu hub is projected to boost Ethiopia’s annual passenger handling from 17 million to over 60 million, placing it in league with international aviation giants like Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson and Beijing’s Daxing airports.
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