Ethiopian Airlines on Saturday launched construction of a $12.5 billion airport project that officials say will become Africa’s largest when it opens in 2030.
The state-owned carrier will design the four-runway Bishoftu International Airport in the town of Bishoftu, about 45 km (28 miles) southeast of Addis Ababa.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a post on X that the project would be “the largest aviation infrastructure” undertaking in Africa. He said the new airport would include parking for 270 aircraft and be built to handle up to 110 million passengers a year.
That would be more than four times the capacity of Ethiopia’s current main airport, which Abiy said is expected to reach its traffic limits within the next two to three years.
Ethiopian Airlines’ Infrastructure Development and Planning Director, Abraham Tesfaye, said the airline would fund 30% of the project, with lenders providing the remainder. He told reporters the company has already set aside $610 million for earthworks, which he said should be finished within a year, and that main contractors are due to begin work in August 2026.
The project was initially estimated at $10 billion, Abraham said. He added that the African Development Bank, which announced last August it would lend $500 million, is also leading efforts to raise $8.7 billion for the development.
Abraham said lenders from the Middle East, Europe, China and the United States have shown strong interest in financing the airport.
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, has continued expanding its network, adding six routes in 2024/25 as revenues grew.