Addis Ababa, Jan 10 – Ethiopia has officially kicked off construction of a $12.5 billion airport project that is set to become the largest aviation facility on the African continent when completed by 2030.
The four-runway Bishoftu International Airport, located about 45 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, is being designed and developed by state-owned Ethiopian Airlines. The facility will have parking space for 270 aircraft and a projected annual passenger capacity of 110 million, more than four times the capacity of the country’s existing main airport.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the new airport is intended to address mounting congestion, noting that Ethiopia’s current aviation infrastructure is expected to reach its limits within the next two to three years as traffic continues to rise.
Ethiopian Airlines plans to fund about 30% of the project from its own resources, with the remainder financed by a mix of regional and international lenders. The carrier has already committed $610 million for initial earthworks, which are expected to be completed within a year, while major contractors are scheduled to begin construction in August 2026.
The African Development Bank has pledged $500 million toward the project and is leading efforts to mobilize additional financing. Lenders from the Middle East, Europe, China, and the United States have also expressed interest, according to airline officials.
The project was initially estimated at $10 billion but has since been revised upward. Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, continues to expand its network and revenues, having added six new routes in the 2024 to 2025 financial year.
