Ethiopia Begins Construction of Africa’s Largest Airport

Ethiopia has officially kicked off construction of a massive new international airport project that is expected to become the largest aviation hub in Africa once completed.

The project, located in Bishoftu town, southeast of Addis Ababa, is estimated to cost about $12.7 billion (approximately KSh 1.6 trillion). When fully operational, the airport will have the capacity to handle up to 110 million passengers annually, far exceeding the current capacity of Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport.

Construction of the new facility is projected to take five years. It is being partly funded by Ethiopian Airlines, the country’s national carrier, which is expected to use the airport as its main hub in the future. Once completed, the Bishoftu airport will gradually replace Bole Airport, which currently handles around 25 million passengers per year.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the project as the largest aviation infrastructure development in Africa’s history. In a statement shared on social media, he said the new airport is part of Ethiopia’s long-term strategy to secure its position as Africa’s leading air transport gateway.

According to the prime minister, the airport will boost Ethiopian Airlines’ global competitiveness, improve regional and international connectivity, support trade and tourism, and position Ethiopia as a key intercontinental travel hub.

The project will also include major transport links. Plans feature a multi-lane highway connecting the airport to Addis Ababa, as well as a 38-kilometre high-speed railway capable of speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour.

Several international lenders are backing the development. The African Development Bank has already committed $500 million, while discussions are ongoing with the Asian Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the US Development Finance Corporation for additional funding.

Despite ongoing security challenges in parts of Amhara and Oromia regions, Ethiopian authorities remain optimistic that the new airport will help attract more foreign tourists. Bishoftu is located within Oromia.

The airport will cover a 35-square-kilometre area. To make way for the project, about 2,500 farmers were relocated last year, with compensation and resettlement costs totaling $350 million, according to Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew Bekele.

Ethiopia, which has an estimated population of 130 million people, has invested heavily in large-scale infrastructure projects in recent years. These include the completion of Africa’s largest dam and ongoing urban redevelopment programs in Addis Ababa and other major cities

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