The airport’s first phase is estimated to cost US$6bn. It will accommodate 60 million passengers annually, rising to 110 million in later phases.
Ethiopia is moving forward with an ambitious project to build Africa’s largest airport, aiming to position itself as a major hub for international air travel on the continent. 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 key transit point for global travellers.
The new facility, called Abusera Airport, is projected to handle up to 100 million passengers annually. This capacity would make it not only the largest in Africa but also 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 accomodates the same figure.
As Ethiopian Airlines is the most lucrative African global airline, this decision comes as an opportunity to aid further growth of the country’s flagship air carrier.
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.”
Source: traveltomorrow.com
