Ethiopia has begun construction of what Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says will become Africa’s largest airport, marking a major step in the country’s push to strengthen its position as a continental and global aviation hub. The new airport is being built in Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa, and is expected to cost about 12.7 billion dollars, with construction projected to last five years.
When completed, the Bishoftu airport is designed to handle up to 110 million passengers annually, far exceeding the capacity of Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, which it is expected to replace. The project is partly financed by Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, and is central to a broader multi airport strategy aimed at supporting the airline’s long term growth and competitiveness.
Announcing the start of construction, Abiy described the project as the largest aviation infrastructure development in Africa’s history. He said the new hub would boost African connectivity, expand trade and tourism links, and firmly position Ethiopia as a major intercontinental gateway. Supporting infrastructure will include a multi lane motorway linking the airport to the capital and a 38 kilometre high speed rail line expected to reach speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour, with funding support from the African Development Bank and discussions ongoing with other international lenders.
The airport will sit on a 35 square kilometre site in Oromia region, where authorities say about 2,500 farmers were relocated and resettled last year. Despite ongoing security challenges in parts of the country, Ethiopia continues to press ahead with large scale infrastructure projects, including the recent inauguration of Africa’s largest dam and major urban renewal programmes in Addis Ababa and other cities, as it looks to drive long term growth and attract foreign investment.