Ethiopian Airlines starts work on Africa’s largest airport

Ethiopian Airlines has launched construction of Bishoftu International Airport, a $12.5 billion infrastructure project expected to become the largest aviation hub in Africa once completed.

The large-scale development, located near the city of Bishoftu in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, was formally inaugurated on January 10, 2026. According to Ethiopian Airlines, construction is now underway and will be delivered in phases, with the first phase scheduled for completion by 2030.

The new airport will feature four runways and aircraft parking capacity for up to 270 planes. Once fully operational, it is designed to handle approximately 110 million passengers annually. During the first phase alone, the airport is expected to accommodate up to 60 million passengers per year and create employment opportunities for more than 26,000 aviation professionals.

Bishoftu International Airport is intended to relieve growing pressure at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD), which is located about 45 kilometers (around 28 miles) from the new site. Ethiopian officials have warned that Bole Airport is likely to reach its operational capacity within the next two to three years. The new airport, which is yet to receive its own IATA and ICAO designations, is positioned as a strategic logistics and connectivity hub and is expected to play a key role in narrowing Africa’s aviation infrastructure gap.

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Ethiopian Airlines plans to finance approximately 30% of the project’s total cost, with the remainder to be funded by financial institutions across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, China, and the United States. The airline has already committed $610 million to initial earthworks, while major construction activities are scheduled to begin in August 2026.

Unveiling the design of Bishoftu International Airport.Africa’s Global Gateway redefined. #FlyEthiopian pic.twitter.com/pRb0koBNkA— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) January 10, 2026The project was initially estimated at $10 billion, but the budget has since been revised to $12.5 billion as the scale and scope of the development expanded.
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