Ethiopia's Bishoftu International Airport Set to shift Africa's Aviation Landscape with 110Million Passengers Annually

Africa’s aviation landscape is set for a major shift with the construction of Bishoftu International Airport in Ethiopia, poised to become the largest airport on the continent. Designed to handle up to 110 million passengers annually at full build-out, with the first phase targeted for completion by 2030, the mega-hub will ease congestion.

Its lower-altitude location southeast of Addis Ababa provides a technical advantage, enabling long-haul flights with heavier passenger and cargo loads and lower operating costs.

The project’s scale is matched by its financing. Of the estimated US $12.5 billion cost, Ethiopian Airlines is funding around 30%, while the African Development Bank has committed a $500 million loan, with strong interest from lenders in the Middle East, Europe, China, and the United States.

Beyond core aviation infrastructure, the development includes an integrated Airport City, designed to anchor a long-term commercial ecosystem.

The economic implications extend well beyond aviation. Bishoftu is expected to catalyse growth across trade, logistics, tourism, manufacturing, and services, lowering freight costs and improving connectivity for high-value and time-sensitive exports.

Expanded cargo capacity could be transformative for sectors such as horticulture, light manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals, while the Airport City model is likely to generate tens of thousands of jobs and attract new commercial activity across the surrounding region. High-speed rail links will further connect the airport to Addis Ababa.

For investors, Bishoftu represents a rare, large-scale infrastructure play with multiple revenue layers—aviation, real estate, logistics, and services—anchored by Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier.

The airline’s routes and revenues continue to expand, reinforcing demand for additional capacity, supported by recent record-breaking fleet orders from Boeing.

More than an aviation hub, this represents a long-term investment platform tied to Africa’s next phase of connectivity-driven growth.