The construction of Bishoftu International Airport was officially launched on January 10, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed presiding over the ceremony in the presence of senior government officials and Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tasew. The Prime Minister formally inaugurated the project, while the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines placed the commemorative plaque marking the commencement of construction.
Addressing the launch ceremony, Prime Minister Abiy underscored the historic role of Ethiopian Airlines as a symbol of national pride and a cornerstone of the Ethiopian state for more than eight decades. He noted that the new airport project builds on this legacy and represents a major leap forward for Ethiopia’s aviation and logistics ambitions.
The Prime Minister stated that Bishoftu International Airport will rank among the world’s few mega-airports, designed to meet the demands of rapidly expanding regional and global air traffic. He further announced that the project includes the development of extensive supporting infrastructure, notably a high-speed expressway capable of accommodating up to 12 lanes of traffic, ensuring seamless connectivity to surrounding areas.
In addition, the airport will be linked to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport through a fast rail network, significantly reducing travel time between the two hubs. Prime Minister Abiy described the Bishoftu International Airport as a grand gateway for Ethiopia’s aviation fleet, emphasizing that the project will address longstanding structural constraints within the country’s logistics and transport systems.
For his part, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew highlighted the significance of the project for both the airline and the continent at large. He noted that the construction of Bishoftu International Airport marks the beginning of a new chapter that will help redefine Africa’s aviation ecosystem. He emphasized that the project will play a critical role in closing Africa’s infrastructure gap and serve as a key enabler of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), reaffirming Ethiopian Airlines’ commitment to the successful completion of the airport.
Bishoftu International Airport stands as a landmark project for Ethiopian and African aviation, with far-reaching implications for trade, tourism, and people-to-people connectivity within Africa and beyond. Phase One of the project is expected to be completed by 2030, with an annual capacity of 60 million passengers. Upon full completion, the airport is projected to handle up to 110 million passengers annually.
With an estimated investment of USD 12.5 billion, Bishoftu International Airport is set to become Africa’s largest aviation hub and one of the ten largest airports globally. The project, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, includes an eight-kilometer high-speed rail link enabling rapid access to Addis Ababa and is expected to generate more than 50,000 jobs for the local community. The airport will incorporate advanced sustainability and technology features, including partial solar power generation and AI-driven security systems, and will host five-star hotels, an aviation museum, and a large integrated “Airport City.”