Ethiopia Launches $12.5 Billion Project to Build Africa’s Largest Airport
Bishoftu, Ethiopia — Ethiopia has officially begun construction of a $12.5 billion Bishoftu International Airport, a mega infrastructure project expected to become Africa’s largest airport when completed in 2030.
The project was launched on January 10 in Bishoftu, about 45 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, and is being led by Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier. The state-owned airline has been awarded the contract to design and develop the new four-runway airport.
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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the project as “the largest aviation infrastructure development in Africa’s history,” noting that the airport will be able to accommodate 110 million passengers annually and park up to 270 aircraft. This capacity is more than four times that of Addis Ababa’s existing Bole International Airport, which is expected to reach its operational limits within the next two to three years.
According to Ethiopian Airlines’ Infrastructure Development and Planning Director Abraham Tesfaye, the airline will finance 30 percent of the project, while the remaining funding will come from international lenders. The airline has already allocated $610 million for initial earthworks, which are scheduled to be completed within a year. Major construction contractors are expected to begin work in August 2026.
The African Development Bank has committed $500 million to the project and is leading efforts to mobilize up to $8.7 billion in additional financing. Tesfaye said lenders from the Middle East, Europe, China, and the United States have shown strong interest in supporting the development.
Initially estimated at $10 billion, the project’s cost has since risen to $12.5 billion. Ethiopian Airlines continues to expand its operations, having added six new routes in the 2024/25 fiscal year, alongside growing revenues.
Source: Reuters