Ethiopian Airlines Launches Construction of $12.5 Billion Mega-Airport in Bishoftu

Bishoftu, Ethiopia – Ethiopian Airlines Group has officially broken ground on the construction of the new Bishoftu International Airport (BIA), a monumental $12.5 billion project destined to become Africa’s largest aviation hub. Located 40 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, the new facility is strategically designed at a lower altitude of 1,910 meters to optimize aircraft takeoff performance and enable longer non-stop flights with higher payloads.Masterplanned by the world-renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, the mega-airport will ultimately feature four independent parallel runways and hold a capacity to accommodate 110 million passengers annually. This massive infrastructure will completely alleviate the pressure on the current Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, which is rapidly nearing its 25-million capacity limit.The project is financed through a joint effort between Ethiopian Airlines and the African Development Bank (AfDB), with additional technical and investment backing from the United States government. The first phase of construction is scheduled for completion by 2030, delivering a 660,000 m² terminal and two operational runways to handle an initial flow of 60 million passengers per year. The final master plan also integrates a vast "Airport City" featuring advanced maintenance facilities, a 350-room transit hotel, cargo terminals, and commercial trade zones.