Ethiopia has officially commenced construction of the Bishoftu International Airport, a $12.5 billion development projected to be Africa’s largest aviation hub upon completion around 2030. According to Reuters, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated the project in Bishoftu, approximately 45 km southeast of Addis Ababa, signaling the start of site works for what is set to become a transformative infrastructure project for the country.
The airport, led by Ethiopian Airlines Group, is receiving backing from international partners, including the African Development Bank, which is coordinating key financing arrangements. Preliminary earthworks, budgeted at around $610 million, have begun, while full-scale construction is expected to kick off in August 2026, Reuters reports.
Once operational, Bishoftu International Airport will feature four runways, parking for 270 aircraft, and the capacity to handle 110 million passengers annually, surpassing the throughput of the current Bole International Airport by more than four times. The facility will also include cargo terminals and integrated logistics services, enhancing Ethiopia’s role in continental trade and aviation.
Officials say the airport will address existing capacity constraints, support regional connectivity under the African Continental Free Trade Area, and attract investment into Ethiopia’s transport and logistics sectors, according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and Trade.
