Ethiopian Airlines has formally launched construction of a massive new international airport near Addis Ababa, a project officials say will become the largest aviation hub in Africa when completed in 2030.
The state owned carrier confirmed on Saturday that work has begun on Bishoftu International Airport, a four runway facility being built about 45 kilometers southeast of the Ethiopian capital. The project carries an estimated cost of 12.5 billion dollars.
The development is central to Ethiopia’s plan to ease pressure on its main airport and strengthen the country’s role as a global air transit gateway.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali said the scale of the airport would be unmatched on the continent. Writing on X, he said Bishoftu International Airport would be the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa’s history, with space to park 270 aircraft and the ability to handle up to 110 million passengers a year.
That capacity is more than four times that of Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, which Abiy said is expected to reach its operational limit within the next two to three years.
The design contract for the airport has been awarded directly to Ethiopian Airlines, reflecting the carrier’s central role in the project.
Ethiopian Airlines Infrastructure Development and Planning Director Abraham Tesfaye told reporters at the construction site that the airline will cover about 30 percent of the project cost, with lenders providing the remaining funds.
He said the airline has already set aside 610 million dollars for earthworks, which are scheduled to be completed within a year. Major contractors are expected to begin full scale construction in August 2026.
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The project was originally estimated at 10 billion dollars, but costs were revised as plans expanded.
The African Development Bank has committed to lend 500 million dollars and is leading efforts to raise an additional 8.7 billion dollars, according to earlier statements from the bank. Tesfaye added that lenders from the Middle East, Europe, China, and the United States have shown strong interest in supporting the airport.
Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s largest carrier by fleet size and destinations. The airline has continued to grow despite global aviation challenges, adding six new routes in the 2024 and 2025 financial year while increasing revenue.
The new airport is expected to support that expansion by removing capacity limits and improving connectivity across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.