Ethiopia has broken ground on what is set to become the largest airport on the continent, marking a defining moment in African aviation history. Ethiopian Airlines Group began construction of Bishoftu International Airport on January 10, 2026, following a groundbreaking ceremony.
It was attended by Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali, senior government officials, industry stakeholders and Ethiopian Airlines executives. The project is located near the city of Bishoftu in Ethiopia’s Oromia region and carries a price tag of US$12.5 billion.
Designed to handle 110 million passengers a year (a number that surpasses even Atlanta, currently the world’s busiest airport), Bishoftu International Airport is scheduled to open its first phase in 2030. The initial phase will accommodate 60 million passengers annually, rising to 110 million once fully built, positioning Ethiopia as a central aviation hub between Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
The airport will feature four runways and aircraft parking for up to 270 aircraft, and even in its first phase is expected to generate employment for more than 26,000 aviation professionals. The project also includes an Airport City featuring MRO facilities, a hotel, a shopping mall and an industrial park.
The new airport is intended to relieve Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, which Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali says will reach capacity within the next two to three years. Hemmed in by the city’s relentless growth, Bole has no room to expand. Bishoftu’s location also offers a strategic operational advantage.
Sitting nearly 400 metres lower in elevation than Bole International Airport and paired with longer runways, the new site will allow aircraft to take off with higher maximum payloads using less fuel, enabling Ethiopian Airlines to operate longer nonstop routes while carrying more passengers and cargo. The airport will also be connected to Addis Ababa and the existing Bole Airport via a high-speed rail link.
UK studio Zaha Hadid Architects is behind the airport’s design, describing it as the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa’s history. The terminal will measure around 660,000 square metres and feature a striking X-shaped form, a layout intended not merely for aesthetics but to make navigation throughout the interior easier.
A central spine organises the terminal and its piers, drawing inspiration from the Great Rift Valley, which runs close to Bishoftu, with each pier featuring distinct interior material palettes and colours referencing Ethiopia’s varied regions.
On sustainability, the terminal is targeting LEED Gold certification, incorporating natural ventilation, solar shading, semi-open and outdoor spaces, and water management systems that redirect stormwater from runways and rooftops into wetlands and bioswales.
Ethiopian Airlines plans to fund around 30% of the project directly, with the remaining financing sourced from institutions across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, China and the United States. The airline has already committed US$610 million to initial earthworks, while major construction activities are scheduled to begin in August 2026. The African Development Bank has already pledged US$500 million and is leading an US$8.7 billion investment drive.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew described the groundbreaking as the start of a new chapter that would redefine the continent’s aviation ecosystem. “Bishoftu International Airport is a major step towards addressing the infrastructural gap in Africa and a key player in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali echoed that sentiment, saying the airport would mark a historic leap in Africa’s aviation journey, significantly enhancing trade, tourism and business across the continent and beyond. Zaha Hadid Architects’ director of aviation Cristiano Ceccato de Sabata added that the project represented an opportunity to connect every region of the continent as Africa’s global gateway.
Written by Kweku Sampson
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