Construction has officially begun in Bishoftu on what Ethiopia describes as Africa’s biggest airport and the continent’s largest aviation infrastructure project. The airport, expected to reach full capacity by 2030, is projected to handle about 110 million passengers annually. Once completed, the Bishoftu hub will have more than four times the capacity of Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, which currently handles up to 25 million passengers a year but is expected to reach saturation within three years. Ethiopia hopes the new airport will help attract foreign tourists despite ongoing armed conflict in its two most populous regions, Amhara and Oromia, where Bishoftu is located. Funding for the Bishoftu airport is expected to come from Ethiopian Airlines, international financiers, and the African Development Bank.

Source: Ethiopian News January 12, 2026 11:50 UTC