ADDIS Ababa, Ethiopia – Ethiopia is poised to host Africa’s largest airport, marking a significant milestone in the continent’s aviation industry.
The groundbreaking agreement for the design of this massive four-runway facility near Bishoftu, just outside the bustling capital of Addis Ababa, has been officially signed.
This project, first announced in 2018, is designed to handle a staggering 100 million passengers annually, far surpassing the capacity of any other airport on the African continent.
The current main hub, Bole Addis Ababa International Airport, is rapidly nearing its capacity limit of 25 million passengers per year, making the new airport a critical development for the region.
Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines—the largest airline in Africa—highlighted the scale and importance of the project.
“This is a five-year project that will be the biggest in Africa,” Tasew said. “Phase one alone will cost at least $6 billion… The money will come through loans, and there are already companies that have shown interest.”
Dubai-based engineering firm Sidara has been selected to lead the design process, ensuring that the new airport will not only be a hub for passengers but also for aircraft, with parking space for 270 planes.
The airport is expected to become operational by 2029, setting a new standard for aviation infrastructure in Africa and solidifying Ethiopia’s position as a key player in global air travel.
