Construction begins on Africa’s biggest airport in Ethiopia
The $12.5 billion Bishoftu International Airport is designed to handle 60 million passengers a year from 2030.
Key points
- Construction of Bishoftu International Airport, about 45km south-east of Addis Ababa, began in January 2026 at a cost of about $12.5 billion.
- Phase one is due to open in 2030 with two runways and capacity for 60 million passengers a year, eventually rising to 110 million.
- Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, is leading the project.
Work has started on what will be Africa's biggest airport. Construction of Bishoftu International Airport, about 45 kilometres south-east of Addis Ababa, began in January 2026.
The scale
- Cost: about $12.5 billion.
- Phase one: due to open in 2030, with two runways and capacity for 60 million passengers a year.
- Long term: four runways and capacity for up to 110 million passengers a year, more than Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson, currently the world's busiest airport.
Ethiopian Airlines' bet
The project is led by Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest carrier, which has outgrown its current hub at Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport. The state-owned airline won the contract to design the airport, and its chief executive, Mesfin Tasew, told CNN that it would invest 30% of the cost from its own equity.
Why it matters
Addis Ababa is already one of Africa's most important air hubs, connecting the continent with the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Americas. A much bigger airport would let Ethiopian Airlines add more routes and cargo, making it easier to travel and trade across Africa.
Sources
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