Ethiopia to Build Africa’s Largest Airport with Four Runways

4 days ago Editor

Ethiopia is constructing a new “Mega Airport City” with four runways and the capacity to handle 110 million passengers annually, set to become Africa’s largest airport by 2029.

Ethiopia is set to unveil Africa’s largest airport, which will feature four runways and a massive capacity to accommodate up to 110 million passengers annually. The new “Mega Airport City” will be situated near Bishoftu, a town about 25 miles from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

The project will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase of the construction costing an estimated $6 billion. This phase, expected to be completed by 2029, will involve building two of the runways and the first terminal, with the capacity to serve 60 million passengers per year. The second phase will include additional runways, another terminal, and various commercial developments such as hotels and shopping malls.

Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Mesfin Tasew, envisions this airport becoming a significant economic driver for the country, enhancing connectivity while maintaining environmentally responsible practices. The ambitious expansion comes in response to the growing passenger traffic at the existing Addis Ababa Bole Airport, which is quickly reaching its capacity limits.

The construction is being led by a consortium of companies, including Dar Al-Handasah Consultants and renowned architects Zaha Hadid Architects, Pascall+Watson, and others. Once complete, the Mega Airport City will not only boost Ethiopia’s position in global aviation but also solidify Ethiopian Airlines’ competitive edge within Africa’s aviation market.