ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES'$12.5 BILLION MEGA AIRPORT PROJECT

Ethiopian Airlines has begun construction of Bishoftu International Airport, located 40 km south of Addis Ababa, with a first-phase cost of $12.5 billion and an opening targeted for 2030. The facility will feature four runways, capacity for 60 million passengers annually (expandable to 110 million), parking for 270 aircraft, and passenger-focused amenities like hotels and entertainment to support 80% transit traffic.

Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and funded partly by Ethiopian Airlines (30%), the African Development Bank ($500 million lead), and international partners including the US DFC, the lower-elevation airport promises better efficiency and connectivity. It seeks to relieve overcrowded Bole Airport, boost Ethiopian Airlines' dominance, enhance AfCFTA trade/tourism, and position Ethiopia as Africa's premier intercontinental gateway despite competition from Middle Eastern hubs.