Ethiopia unveils Bishoftu Airport, a game-changer for African aviation

Ethiopia is taking a bold step towards reshaping Africa’s aviation landscape with the development of the Bishoftu International Airport (BIA), a flagship greenfield project envisioned as a continental aviation hub set to serve Ethiopia and the broader African region.

Located about 40 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa, the new airport is designed to ease growing capacity constraints due to strong traffic at the existing Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and position Ethiopia as a key player in both regional and global aviation.

The project will adopt a phased approach, with infrastructure scaled in line with demand growth and operational requirements.

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Phase one, valued at approximately USD 12.5 billion, is expected to be completed by 2030 and will accommodate up to 60 million passengers annually. When fully developed, BIA will have the capacity to handle 110 million passengers annually, making it the largest airport in Africa and a powerful catalyst for trade, tourism and regional investment.

“Bishoftu International Airport marks a historic leap in Africa’s aviation journey, significantly enhancing trade, tourism, and business across the continent and beyond,” remarked Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines.

He further stated, “With its cutting-edge technology, sustainable design, and unparalleled connectivity, the new airport positions Ethiopia to become the aviation capital of Africa, serving as a major gateway connecting the continent to the world. I urge financers around the globe to join us in supporting this ambitious project and to take part in this momentous milestone.”

Ethiopian Airlines Group (EAG), the project sponsor, is steering the initiative with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) as the appointed Initial Mandated Lead Arranger (IMLA) and Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Dar) and KPMG as the project’s technical and financial advisors, respectively.

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Clyde & Co are the project legal advisors. Momentum around the project continues to build. EAG has formally released the Project Information Memorandum, Financial Model and supporting documents to prospective lenders thus marking a major milestone in the progress toward financial close.

Meanwhile, prequalification of EPC contractors is underway, with bid submissions expected by mid-December 2025, signaling readiness to move from planning to procurement and implementation.

The project will be featured at the upcoming Africa Investment Forum (AIF) Market Days in Rabat, Morocco, from 26-28 November 2025, where it is expected to attract interest from development financiers, commercial banks, ECAs and institutional investors to fund this project.

With its scale, ambition and strategic positioning, Bishoftu International Airport stands as a defining project for Ethiopia, and a beacon of Africa’s transformation in aviation and infrastructure.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers.

She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay.

She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos.

As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender.

She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies.

Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category.

She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category.

She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations.

Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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