Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated the new terminal at Bahir Dar’s Dejazmach Belay Zeleke International Airport on Thursday (August 6). He was joined by First Lady Zinash Tayachew, Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh, and Speaker of the House of Federation Agegnehu Teshager.
Addressing officials, community elders, and residents at the inauguration, PM Abiy highlighted Bahir Dar’s rich history and exceptional natural beauty. He noted the city’s longstanding role as a trade bridge connecting areas such as Shewa and Welega with the northern parts of the country, including Gondar, for more than a century.
Reflecting on the achievement, the Prime Minister said the project represents more than an upgrade to airport infrastructure, describing the new terminal as a symbol of resilience, recovery, and forward-looking investment.
He also pointed to recent developments including the Gorgora Resort, Felge Ghion, and improvements to maritime transport on Lake Tana, noting their potential to strengthen tourism in the area. Public investment, paired with growing private-sector initiatives, he explained, is improving access to the region’s historical islands and cultural heritage sites, creating new opportunities to develop Bahir Dar and the wider Lake Tana area as tourism destinations.
Beyond tourism, the Prime Minister pointed to broader infrastructure and urban development underway in Bahir Dar, including an industrial park, high-quality intra-city road designs, iconic bridges, ongoing corridor development, and a new stadium.
He described the new terminal, now the second-largest airport terminal in the country after Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, as a major achievement for Ethiopian Airlines, the Amhara Region, and Ethiopia as a whole. At the same time, he stressed that sustaining and building on these investments would require continued attention to two fundamental priorities: strengthening municipal revenue and preserving regional peace.
The expanded terminal increases passenger capacity and modernizes the airport’s surrounding infrastructure, with upgraded aircraft facilities, improved access roads, and enhanced passenger amenities. Together with ongoing urban transformation projects across Bahir Dar, the facility strengthens the city’s position as a key hub for domestic and international air travel.