One of Africa’s leading airlines, Ethiopian Airlines Group, has signed a technical advisory and consultancy contract with Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), a partner with architects Zaha Hadid Architects, to design and supervise a mega airport city. The state-of-the-art airport city will be located at Abusera in Bishoftu city, just 40 kilometres from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. When completed, it will have the capacity to serve 110 million passengers each year (four times the current capacity of Bole International Airport). It will be delivered in phases, with the first (allowing the site to handle 60 million passengers) expected to be completed in 2029.
“The project will not only enhance connectivity but also drive economic growth and prioritise environmentally responsible practices in our country and beyond, reflecting the airline’s commitment to innovation and sustainability,” remarked Ethiopian Airlines’ group CEO, Mesfin Tasew. “With its exceptional capacity and world-class facilities, this new airport promises to elevate African aviation and strengthen partnerships, marking a significant advancement for the region’s air travel infrastructure.”
Features of the mega airport city include a 1.1 million square metre terminal with passenger facilities, 126,190 square metres of airline support facilities and more than 100,000 square metres of cargo and airport support facilities.
Dar director of operations in Ethiopia, Tariq Al-Qanni, commented, “We are privileged to be collaborating with Ethiopian Airlines on this visionary new airport, which will provide vital global air connectivity, accelerate economic growth in Ethiopia, and elevate Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s most strategic and most competitive aviation group.”
Ethiopia is moving forward with an ambitious project to build Africa’s largest airport, aiming to position itself as a central hub for international air travel. The new airport, projected to cost $6 billion, is set to be located in Bishoftu, approximately 45 kilometres from the capital of Addis Ababa and will significantly enhance Ethiopia’s aviation infrastructure. The project is designed to accommodate the rapidly growing demand for air travel in the region and to bolster the nation’s role as a critical transit point for global travellers.
The new Abusera Airport facility is projected to handle up to 100 million passengers annually. This capacity would make it the largest in Africa and one of the most significant aviation hubs worldwide. The scale of the project is comparable to some of the busiest airports globally, such as Dubai International Airport, which currently accommodates the exact figure.
As Ethiopian Airlines is the most lucrative African global airline, this decision is an opportunity to aid further growth of the country’s flagship air carrier. A revenue of $7 billion and seating of 17 million passengers was revealed last month for 2023–2024, with the potential to generate much more. A major setback is that the airline’s current hub, Bole Addis Ababa International Airport, is reaching its capacity limits, prompting the need for expanded infrastructure.
The new airport will provide Ethiopian Airlines with the facilities necessary to continue its expansion and to compete with other major airlines in the region, so the airline has recently signed an agreement with Dar Al-Handasah Consultants, a partner with the world-renowned signature architects Zaha Hadid Architects, for the “design and supervision of a Mega Airport City at Abusera in Bishoftu city.”
