Ethiopia has launched construction of a $12.5 billion airport that officials say will be the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa, marking a major expansion of the country\u2019s ambitions as a continental air transport hub. The new Bishoftu International Airport broke ground on Saturday in the town of Bishoftu, about 45 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, with completion targeted for 2030.<\/p>\n
The project is being developed by state-owned Ethiopian Airlines, Africa\u2019s largest carrier, which has been awarded the contract to design and build the four-runway airport. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali said the new facility would fundamentally transform Ethiopia\u2019s aviation capacity, describing it as the biggest such project in Africa\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
Once completed, Bishoftu International Airport is expected to accommodate up to 110 million passengers annually and provide parking for 270 aircraft. That capacity is more than four times that of Ethiopia\u2019s current main airport, Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, which officials say will reach its operational limits within the next two to three years due to surging traffic.<\/p>\n
Financing for the project will come from a mix of airline investment and external lenders. Ethiopian Airlines will contribute about 30 percent of the total cost, according to the company\u2019s Infrastructure Development and Planning Director, Abraham Tesfaye, with the remainder to be financed through loans. The airline has already allocated $610 million for initial earthworks, which are expected to be completed within a year. Main construction contractors are scheduled to begin work in August 2026.<\/p>\n
The airport was initially projected to cost $10 billion, but estimates have since risen to $12.5 billion as the scale of the project expanded. The African Development Bank has committed to lending $500 million and is leading efforts to mobilize an additional $8.7 billion from international financiers. Tesfaye said lenders from the Middle East, Europe, China, and the United States have shown strong interest in financing the development.<\/p>\n
The project comes as Ethiopian Airlines continues to expand its footprint and financial performance. The carrier added six new routes in the 2024\/25 period and has reported growing revenues, reinforcing its position as a central player in Africa\u2019s aviation sector. With the Bishoftu airport, the airline and the Ethiopian government are betting that long-term demand will support one of the most ambitious infrastructure investments ever undertaken on the continent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ethiopia has launched construction of a $12.5 billion airport that officials say will be the largest aviation 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