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Ethiopian Airlines has recently finalized a significant agreement for the construction of a new airport, which is set to become the largest on the African continent upon its completion in 2029. The announcement was made by Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, during a press briefing on Friday.
The new airport will be situated near Bishoftu, approximately 45 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, the nation’s capital. Once operational, it is expected to have four runways and accommodate up to 100 million passengers annually and feature parking facilities for 270 aircraft, according to Tasew. The new hub of EAL will be connected to Addis Ababa via train. In addition, the already existing Addis-Adama toll road will be linked to airport terminal.
The design work for the airport will be undertaken by Sidara, a Dubai-based engineering and consulting firm. Tariq Al Qanni, the firm’s Director of Operations, confirmed their involvement in the project.
The initiative to build this massive infrastructure was first unveiled in 2018. Mesfin highlighted that the current primary airport, Bole Addis Ababa International Airport, which serves as the main hub for Ethiopian Airlines, is nearing its limit with a passenger capacity of 25 million per year. It is expected to continue operating after the construction of the Bishoftu hub is completed, to accommodate the continents increasing demand for air travel in the decades ahead.
“This new airport project is a major endeavor expected to be completed within five years. It will be the largest airport in Africa,” Mesfin remarked. He elaborated that the initial phase of construction alone will require an investment of at least $6 billion, with funding to be sourced through loans. Several companies have already expressed interest in participating in the project.
In the financial year 2023/2024, Ethiopian Airlines transported 17 million passengers and anticipates an increase to 20 million passengers in the current fiscal year that began in July. The Airline plans to double its current capacity by 2034 with the purchase of 104 new aircraft from Boeing.
In May Boeing agreed to set up its new Africa head quarters in Addis Ababa.
Moreover, in a bid to make its fleet energy consumption more sustainable, the airline recently entered an MoU with Satarem Ameerica Inc. The move aims to produce sustainable aviation fuel from sugar cane ethanol locally. This partnership aims to reduce carbon emissions and support global climate efforts by integrating SAF into Ethiopian Airlines’ operations.
Recent developments taking place at Ethiopian Airlines is the biggest shakeup in the company’s history. It sets the stage for growth in the 21st century, in which Africa will become a major market for aviation.
