Ethiopia Begins Construction of Africa’s Largest Airport Project

Ethiopia has started construction of what is expected to become Africa’s largest airport, according to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The project was launched on Saturday in the town of Bishoftu, located southeast of the capital, Addis Ababa.

The new airport is expected to cost around $12.7 billion and, once completed, will be able to handle up to 110 million passengers each year. Construction is scheduled to take about five years.

The project is partly financed by national carrier Ethiopian Airlines and is planned to replace Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, which currently has a capacity of about 25 million passengers annually.

Prime Minister Abiy described the development as “the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa’s history.” He said the new airport is part of a long-term strategy to strengthen Ethiopia’s position as Africa’s main air transport hub.

According to Abiy, the project will boost the global competitiveness of Ethiopian Airlines, improve air connectivity across Africa, support trade and tourism, and position the country as a key intercontinental gateway.

The airport development also includes major transport links, such as a multi-lane motorway connecting the site to the capital and a 38-kilometre high-speed railway expected to reach speeds of up to 200 km/h.

The African Development Bank has allocated $500 million for the project. Ethiopian officials are also in discussions with the Asian Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the US Development Finance Corporation to secure additional funding.

Despite ongoing security challenges in the Amhara and Oromia regions, the government hopes the new airport will help attract foreign tourists. Bishoftu is located in the Oromia region.

The airport will be built on a 35-square-kilometre site. According to Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew Bekele, about 2,500 farmers were relocated from the area and rehoused last year at a cost of $350 million.