Bishoftu International Airport, which is considered by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the "largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa's history," officially commenced construction on January 10, 2026. The project has an estimated initial cost of US$ 12.5 billion and is expected to expand the country's air capacity and consolidate Ethiopia as an important global hub.
The future airport is designed by London-based Zaha Hadid Architects and emerges with the intention of becoming the continent's leading aviation gateway.
Located approximately 45 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, near the city of Bishoftu, the airport structure is being built on an area of roughly 3,500 hectares and is inspired by Ethiopia's Great Rift Valley, with a central "backbone" connecting four piers to reduce transit distances for connecting passengers by up to 80%.
The megaproject will go through several phases, and its first stage is already scheduled for completion in 2030. The project's full completion will occur only after this period and will feature four independent runways, capacity for 110 million passengers, and a complete "Airport City" with MRO facilities, hotels, industrial parks and residential zones for 80,000 people.
Replacement
The new airport complex is expected to meet the growing demand of African air transport. Currently, the country's air transport depends on Bole International Airport, in Addis Ababa, which receives approximately 20 million passengers annually, however the airport structure has proven insufficient.
Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew stated that Bole "has reached its limits." The airline has a "Vision 2040," which foresees its fleet growing from 160 to 240 aircraft, and this expansion is impossible without a new hub.
With the inauguration of the new airport in 2030, Bole will operate only domestic flights, while all international routes will fall under the responsibility of Bishoftu International Airport. As Bishoftu sits at a lower altitude, the new airport will be able to operate direct flights from East Africa to the West Coast of the United States, representing a strategic advance for commerce and connectivity
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