Ethiopia kicks off construction of Africa’s largest airport in Bishoftu

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has launched a $12.5bn airport project described as Africa’s largest aviation hub in Bishoftu, Ethiopia.

Construction has officially started on what Ethiopia calls Africa’s biggest airport and the continent’s largest aviation infrastructure undertaking.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed laid a ceremonial plaque at the site, around 45 kilometres south-east of Addis Ababa, formally marking the commencement of work on the new airport.

The facility, expected to reach full capacity by 2030, is projected to serve about 110 million passengers annually. The $12.5 billion project will include four runways and parking for up to 270 aircraft.

When finished, the Bishoftu hub will have over four times the capacity of Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, which currently handles up to 25 million passengers yearly but is anticipated to reach full capacity within three years.

In a post on X, Abiy described the project as part of a “multi-airport strategy” designed to secure Ethiopia’s position as Africa’s leading air transport gateway. He stated that the initiative will boost Ethiopian Airlines’ global competitiveness, enhance African connectivity, and expand trade and tourism corridors.

Ethiopia also hopes the new airport will attract foreign tourists despite ongoing armed conflicts in its two most populous regions, Amhara and Oromia, where Bishoftu is situated.

The project includes a multi-lane motorway connecting the airport to Addis Ababa, along with a 38-kilometre high-speed railway capable of speeds up to 200 kilometres per hour, according to the prime minister.

Funding for the Bishoftu airport is expected to come from Ethiopian Airlines, international financiers, and the African Development Bank.