Ethiopia has officially begun construction of what it aims to be Africa’s largest airport and most ambitious aviation infrastructure project in Bishoftu, 45 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed marked the launch with a ceremonial plaque on Saturday. The $12.5 billion project up from an initial $10 billion due to inflation and design adjustments will be funded 30 percent by Ethiopian Airlines and 70 percent by international lenders. The African Development Bank has already contributed a $500 million loan and is coordinating efforts to raise $8.7 billion from investors in China, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.
Designed to eventually accommodate 110 million passengers per year and 270 aircraft simultaneously, the state-owned airport will feature four runways, a multi-lane motorway linking it to Addis Ababa, and a 38-kilometre high-speed rail line capable of 200 kph. The initial phase will handle 60 million passengers annually. Bishoftu was chosen over the existing Bole International Airport, which is expected to reach capacity within three years. Bole currently manages 25 million passengers annually, making Bishoftu four times larger and a vital hub for Ethiopia’s growing aviation and economic ambitions.
