Airport
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Planned 110 million-passenger hub; anchors Africa's largest carrier and creates large demand for MRO, cargo and aviation services.
Bishoftu International Airport is Ethiopian Airlines Group's planned new hub, about 40–45 km southeast of Addis Ababa. It is meant to replace Addis Ababa Bole International, which the airline's CEO Mesfin Tasew says is overcrowded and cannot be expanded further. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called it "the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa's history".
Design approach: Phase One has two independently operated Code 4E parallel runways, a 660,000 sq m terminal and capacity for 60 million passengers a year. At full build-out it will have four runways, parking for 270 aircraft and up to 110 million passengers a year. Freight capacity is about 4 million tonnes, according to Further Africa. Dar (Dar Al-Handasah) leads the design team (airfield, masterplan, terminal and airport city), and Zaha Hadid Architects is design architect for the terminal. The terminal has a single central spine linking the piers so that up to 80% of passengers can transfer without leaving the building. It also has a 350-room airside hotel, natural ventilation and solar power, and targets LEED Gold. The site sits about 400 m lower than Bole, so longer runways and thicker air let aircraft carry more weight on long routes. Plans include a 38 km high-speed rail line, a 12-lane highway and an Airport City for about 80,000 people.
Key dates: in August 2025 the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Ethiopia signed a mandated lead arranger agreement. AfDB is to raise about US$8–8.7 billion and offered US$500 million of its own, subject to approval. Prime Minister Abiy laid the cornerstone on 10 January 2026. That started US$610 million of earthworks, due to take about a year. In early 2026 Ethiopian released lender materials and, by April 2026, completed prequalification for four EPC-F (engineering, procurement, construction plus financing) packages: 33 places in total, 15 held by Chinese or Chinese-led groups.
Cost and funding: US$12.5 billion for Phase One (first billed at US$10 billion). Ethiopian Airlines is to fund 20–30% and lenders the rest. No loan agreements had been signed by August 2026, though lender interest was about US$8.5 billion. Ethiopian Investment Holdings approved a special purpose company to run the project.
Setbacks: contractor selection slipped from August 2026 to January 2027. The airline says the 2030 completion date is unchanged. A search on 9 Nov 2026 found no confirmed update for 1 Oct–9 Nov 2026. An Engineering News feature dated 6 Nov 2026 could not be opened and is not used.
Showing 1–4 of 5
Aug 2025
The African Development Bank and Ethiopia signed a mandated lead arranger agreement. AfDB is to raise about US$8–8.7 billion and offered US$500m of its own, subject to approval.
Why it matters: AfDB's lead role is the anchor for the rest of the lender group.
29 Nov 2025
At the Africa Investment Forum in Rabat, Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew announced a US$500m pledge from a China-based lender (not named).
Why it matters: It showed Chinese lender interest early, though it is a pledge, not a signed loan.
10 Jan 2026
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed laid the cornerstone, starting US$610m of earthworks due to take about a year.
Why it matters: The site is now active, with early works ahead of the main construction packages.
24 Mar 2026
Ethiopia's Ministry of Finance held talks with Italian financing institutions on Bishoftu.
Why it matters: Italian banks could join the lender group alongside Italian contractor Webuild's bid.
By Apr 2026 (list published 2026)
Ethiopian Airlines completed prequalification for four engineering, procurement, construction and financing packages: 33 places in total, 15 held by Chinese or Chinese-led groups.
Why it matters: The shortlist shows which global contractors are competing for the main works.
Apr 2026
The Ministry of Finance held talks with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and Bank of China reviewed the financing framework with AfDB.
Why it matters: Asian lenders could fill a large share of the roughly US$8.5bn external need.
Reported 1 Aug 2026
At bidders' request, main contractor selection was moved from August 2026 to early January 2027. The airline says the 2030 target is unchanged.
Why it matters: A five-month slip puts more pressure on the 2030 opening date.
9 Sep 2026
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank held more talks on taking part. No commitment was announced.
Why it matters: Signed loans, not talks, are the test for the main works award.
Early Jan 2027
Ethiopian Airlines plans to choose the EPC-F contractors for the four main packages.
What to watch: which groups win, and how the contract is split between Chinese, Turkish, European and other bidders.
Jan 2027
The US$610m earthworks package is due to finish, readying the site for main construction.
What to watch: Capital also called the earthworks "largely completed", so check progress reports.
By Mar 2027
International lenders aim to finalise their funding approvals by March 2027.
What to watch: the first signed loan agreements, which no source had reported by 9 Nov 2026.
2030
Phase One, with two runways and capacity for 60 million passengers a year, is due to open.
What to watch: It would shift Ethiopian Airlines' hub, and its MRO and cargo demand, from Bole to Bishoftu.
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Main contractors not yet selected (selection due January 2027) and no loans signed as of 9 Nov 2026. Shortlist from Ethiopian Airlines' published EPC-F list.
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| Compared item | Ethiopian Airlines Group | KSIADC (PIF) | Government of Rwanda; Qatar Airways 60% (2019 deal); Mota-Engil contractor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runways | 2 (Phase One), 4 final | 6 parallel | Not stated in sources opened |
| Passenger capacity | 60m (Phase One); 110m final | 120m by 2030; 185m by 2050 | 7–8m (Phase I); 14m (Phase II, by 2032) |
| Cost | US$12.5bn (Phase One) | Not officially published | About US$2bn expected (2023), up from US$818m (2016) |
| Opening | 2030 (Phase One) | 2030 | 2028 (latest reported target) |
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