Construction has begun on Ethiopia’s new Bishoftu International Airport (BIA), 40 kilometres southwest of Addis Ababa.
The cost of the airport will total US$12.5 billion when all construction phases are complete, making it Africa’s biggest-ever aviation project. The first phase, scheduled to open in 2030, will create a facility that can handle 60 million passengers a year. Bishoftu International will eventually process up to 110 million passengers annually, making it Africa’s largest airport by a considerable margin and putting it on the same level as global aviation hubs like Dubai International and London Heathrow.
When operational, BIA will become the principal hub of state-owned carrier Ethiopian Airlines. The largest airline in Africa, Ethiopian flies to over 150 destinations and reported revenue of US$7.6 billion for the 2024/2025 fiscal year. Ethiopia’s current largest airport will reach capacity within three years, the country’s authorities report, making BIA an infrastructural neccesity.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said:
This is truly a proud moment for Ethiopian Airlines and for all of Africa. Bishoftu International Airport is a major step towards addressing the infrastructural gap in Africa and a key player in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and at Ethiopian we are committed to realise the completion of this project.
The airline will fund 30% of the project, with lenders providing the rest of the capital. The African Development Bank has already pledged to give US$500 million and lead a US$8.7 billion investment drive.
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