Ethiopia is set to build a massive £4.7 billion ($6 billion) airport that will make the country a major hub for Africa’s aviation industry. The airport is believed to be the largest in Africa and will be able to handle 100 million passengers a year once it is completed in five years.
Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said in a press conference that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed with Dubai-based consulting firm Dar to develop the design for the airport, which will have four runways.
This ambitious project, which aims to transform air travel in the region, was officially launched on August 3, 2016 with the signing of an agreement between Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, and Tariq Al-Khani, CEO of Dar.
The airport will be built in Bishoftu, about 40 kilometers southeast of the capital Addis Ababa, and will cover 35 square kilometers, Mr Tasew explained.
According to state broadcaster Fana Broadcasting Corporate, he said: “The first phase includes the construction of the airport facility with a capacity of 60 million passengers per year. After the completion of the second phase of the airport project, it will handle more than 100 million passengers per year.”
Dar’s operations manager Tariq Al-Qanni, who attended the press conference, said it will be the largest airport in Africa once completed, Fana reported.
“The scope of the agreement is for Dar to develop the detailed design of the new airport while assisting Ethiopian Airlines in the selection of contractors who will build the new airport facilities,” Mesfin added.
Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s largest airline and last month reported revenue of $7 billion for the 2023/24 fiscal year, carrying 17.1 million passengers.
Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, currently the airline’s hub, has a maximum capacity of 25 million passengers per year.
The new airport, to be built in Abusera near Bishoftu, is a strategic initiative by Ethiopian Airlines to meet the increasing demand for air travel and establish Ethiopia as a major hub in the African aviation industry.
Dar is fully involved in this project, covering the design phase, which is expected to be completed within a year, as well as advising on the selection of the contractor, ensuring that the project is delivered with expert guidance and efficiency.
Tariq Al-Khani stressed that the airport’s design will be heavily inspired by Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage and will celebrate the country’s multiculturalism and historical significance.
This approach aims to create not only a functional and modern airport, but also a landmark that proudly represents Ethiopia’s identity on the world stage.
