Construction has begun in Ethiopia on the new Bishoftu International Airport, which is set to become Africa’s largest airport and the continent’s first aviation mega-hub.
The project is being led by Ethiopian Airlines, which plans to develop the airport into a global transit hub and strengthen Ethiopia’s position as a leading aviation center in Africa.
The airport is being built in the city of Bishoftu, about 45 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa. It is a standalone project and not an expansion of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, which is nearing its capacity limit and currently handles around 25 million passengers per year.
Total investment in the project is estimated at $12.5 billion. Construction has started with large-scale earthworks, for which more than $600 million has already been allocated. The main construction phase is scheduled for 2026.
The first phase of Bishoftu International Airport is expected to open in 2030, with an initial capacity of up to 60 million passengers annually. The project also includes plans to develop road and rail links between the airport and Addis Ababa.
Once fully completed, the airport is designed to handle up to 110 million passengers per year. The plans call for four runways and parking stands for approximately 270 aircraft.