Ethiopia has officially broken ground on a colossal new airport project that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declares will be the largest of its kind in Africa upon completion. The construction began on Saturday, January 10, 2026, in the town of Bishoftu, located southeast of the capital, Addis Ababa.
A Vision for an Aviation Powerhouse
This monumental infrastructure endeavor, tagged as the largest aviation project in Africa's history, represents a strategic leap for the nation. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, announcing the start via a post on X, stated the project is central to a multi-airport strategy designed to "future-proof Ethiopia's role as Africa's leading air transport gateway."
The core objectives of the new Bishoftu hub are multifaceted:
- Strengthening the global competitiveness of Ethiopian Airlines.
- Enhancing connectivity across the African continent.
- Expanding international trade and tourism corridors.
- Positioning Ethiopia as a major intercontinental transit point.
Staggering Scale and Investment
The scale of the project is breathtaking. The future airport will sprawl across a 35 square kilometre site and, at full capacity, is projected to handle approximately 110 million passengers every year. This dwarfs the capacity of the current main gateway, Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport, which can manage up to 25 million passengers annually.
The total cost for this aviation behemoth is estimated at a staggering $12.7 billion. The national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, is a partial financier. So far, the African Development Bank has committed $500 million to the project. Ethiopian authorities are in advanced discussions to secure additional funding from other international financial institutions, including:
- The Asian Development Bank.
- The European Investment Bank.
- The US Development Finance Corporation.
The construction timeline is set for five years.
Connectivity and Community Impact
To ensure seamless access, the project includes major transport links. A new multi-lane motorway will connect the airport to Addis Ababa, alongside a 38-kilometre high-speed railway that Prime Minister Abiy said would achieve speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour (124 mph).
The project has already led to significant local displacement. In November, Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew Bekele revealed that 2,500 farmers were relocated from the site last year, with a resettlement program costing $350 million.
This airport initiative is part of a broader pattern of massive infrastructure development under Ethiopia's government. Africa's second-most populous nation, with about 130 million people, recently inaugurated the continent's largest dam and is undertaking extensive urban renewal projects in Addis Ababa and other major cities.
The launch proceeds even as Ethiopia continues to navigate armed conflicts in its Amhara and Oromia regions, the latter being where Bishoftu is situated. The government remains hopeful that the new airport will significantly boost foreign tourism and economic growth, solidifying its ambition to become the undisputed aviation crossroads of Africa.
