Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading aviation giant, has announced a landmark $6 billion deal to design what is set to become the continent’s largest airport. The new airport, located near the resort town of Bishoftu in the Oromia region, will dramatically increase the airline’s capacity, positioning Ethiopia as a key global aviation hub.
Currently, Ethiopian Airlines operates out of Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, which has a maximum capacity of 25 million passengers annually. However, the airline’s rapid growth has necessitated a significant expansion. The new airport, planned to cover an area of 35 square kilometers, will be able to handle up to 100 million passengers per year when fully completed, more than tripling the current capacity.
At a press conference held on Friday, Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew outlined the ambitious project. The first phase of the new airport is expected to be operational within five years, initially serving 60 million passengers annually. Once the second phase is completed, the airport’s capacity will rise to 100 million passengers, making it the largest in Africa by a significant margin.
The design of the airport will be managed by DAR, an international consulting group that has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopian Airlines. DAR’s Director of Operations, Tariq Al-Qanni, who also attended the press conference, emphasized the scale of the project. “This will be the biggest airport in Africa once complete,” Al-Qanni said, noting that DAR’s role will include developing the detailed design and assisting in the selection of contractors for the construction phase.
This move is part of Ethiopian Airlines’ broader strategy to solidify its position as Africa’s largest and most successful airline. In the last financial year, the airline reported revenues of $7 billion and carried 17.1 million passengers, underscoring its dominance in the African aviation market.
The new airport is not just a response to the growing demand but also a strategic investment in the future. As air travel in Africa continues to expand, Ethiopian Airlines aims to be at the forefront, offering a modern, high-capacity hub that can compete with global airports. The proximity of the new airport to Addis Ababa, just 17 kilometers away, ensures that the capital remains a central part of the airline’s operations while providing the space needed for future growth.
This development marks a significant milestone in Ethiopia’s infrastructure and economic landscape, promising to boost tourism, create jobs, and enhance the country’s connectivity to the rest of the world. The new airport is expected to become a major gateway not only for Ethiopia but for the entire African continent.
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