Ethiopian Airlines plans to build Africa's largest airport
Within five years, Africa's largest airline, Ethiopian Airlines, aims to build a colossal airport. Located outside of Addis Ababa, it will have the capacity to serve a quarter of Africa's population.
Ethiopian Airlines has signed an agreement to build a new airport near the capital, Addis Ababa, for $6 billion (approximately 5.5 billion euros). Upon completion in five years, the airport will be able to handle 100 million passengers annually, according to airline CEO Mesfin Tasew. State media reports suggest it will be the largest airport in Africa.
Tasew stated that the airline and Dubai-based consulting firm Dar have signed a memorandum of understanding for the airport's planning, which will have four runways. The airport, located in Bishoftu about 40 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, will span over 35 square kilometers, Tasew explained.
According to Tasew, the hub will be built in two phases: after the first phase, it will be able to handle 60 million passengers annually. Upon completion, its capacity will reach 100 million passengers, serving approximately a quarter of Africa's total population.
Ethiopian Airlines is the largest airline on the African continent. For the fiscal year 2023/24, it reported a revenue of seven billion US dollars and transported 17.1 million passengers. The international airport Bole in Addis Ababa, currently the airline's hub, can handle up to 25 million passengers annually.
The construction of the new airport by Ethiopian Airlines will significantly impact the local economy, creating job opportunities and contributing to economic growth in the surrounding areas. With the capacity to serve 100 million passengers annually, the airport could become a major economic hub for Africa, attracting businesses and boosting trade.
