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Ethiopia Builds Africa's Largest Airport by 2030
10 Jan
Summary
- Construction of Africa's largest airport began, set for completion in 2030.
- The new airport will accommodate 270 planes and 110 million passengers annually.
- Ethiopian Airlines will fund 30% of the $12.5 billion project, with lenders covering the rest.
Ethiopia has launched a monumental $12.5 billion construction project for what is projected to become Africa's largest airport. Located in Bishoftu, approximately 45 km southeast of Addis Ababa, the new facility is scheduled to be fully operational by 2030. This significant infrastructure development aims to meet the burgeoning demand for air travel in the region.
The Bishoftu International Airport will boast an impressive capacity, designed to park 270 aircraft simultaneously and process 110 million passengers each year. This scale far surpasses the current capabilities of Ethiopia's main airport, which is nearing its operational limits. Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest carrier, is a key player in this initiative, having secured the contract for the airport's design.
The airline will finance 30% of the project's total cost, with the remaining 70% to be secured through loans from various international financial institutions. Earthworks for the project have already begun, with an allocation of $610 million, and main construction is anticipated to start in August 2026. Lenders from the Middle East, Europe, China, and the USA have expressed strong interest in supporting this historic aviation venture.
