The Ethiopian Airlines Group has appointed the African Development Bank (AfDB) as the mandated lead arranger to secure USD 8 billion in debt financing for the new Bishoftu International Airport, a USD 10 billion mega-project set to become Africa’s largest airport and a key global hub.

Located in Abusera, Bishoftu, 40 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, the airport will address Ethiopia’s surging air traffic demand and strengthen its position as a leading aviation hub. Bole International Airport handled 19 million passengers in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, approaching its expanded capacity of 25 million. Passenger forecasts point to as many as 60 million annually by 2040, making a new facility essential.

The site was selected following comprehensive studies and a master plan finalized in 2022. Construction will be implemented in phases, with the first phase set to open in November 2029. Initial capacity will include two parallel runways and 775,000 square meters of terminal space to serve 60 million passengers annually, along with cargo handling of 2.1 million tons. At full development, the airport will feature four parallel runways, 1.5 million square meters of terminal facilities, and the capacity to accommodate 110 million passengers and 3.73 million tons of cargo yearly.

The project also envisions an Airport City with hotels, business parks, and leisure facilities to boost local economic growth. Positioned as a transformative infrastructure investment, Bishoftu International Airport aims to elevate Ethiopia into the world’s top 20 aviation hubs by 2035.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency