Ethiopia is dreaming big. Near Bishoftu, around forty kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa, the country is preparing to build what could become Africa’s largest airport – a complex of four runways, a 1.1 million square metre terminal and parking for more than 270 aircraft. Designed to handle up to 100 million passengers a year, the project would eclipse Addis Ababa’s existing Bole International and rival global giants like Dubai and Istanbul in scale and ambition.
A Sky-High Ambition
The plan moved from vision to blueprint in August 2024 when Ethiopian Airlines signed a design and advisory agreement with Sidara, formerly Dar Al-Handasah. Construction is due to begin in late 2025, with the first phase expected to open by 2029. That initial stage alone carries a price tag of around six billion dollars and will accommodate sixty million travellers annually. It is a bold step, but a necessary one. Bole International is close to full capacity, handling about twenty-five million passengers each year. Without expansion, the national carrier risks being grounded by its own success.
Ethiopian Airlines has always played the long game. Founded in 1945, it has grown into Africa’s largest and most profitable airline. During the pandemic, when much of the aviation world was paralysed, it converted passenger aircraft into freighters and kept cargo and medical supplies moving across continents. That adaptability kept the airline not just alive but profitable while many competitors struggled. Now it is thinking bigger. Under its Vision 2035 strategy, the airline plans to double its fleet, expand to more than two hundred destinations and strengthen its role as a bridge between Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
For travellers, the benefits of a mega-hub are clear. More capacity means more routes and fewer layovers. In the future, passengers could fly directly between Addis Ababa and destinations like Singapore or New York without changing planes in Dubai or Frankfurt. The new airport promises modern terminals, faster check-in, and amenities to match the world’s top airports. If it delivers, the Bishoftu project could make travel to and from Africa smoother, faster and more affordable.
Lessons from the World’s Mega-Hubs
Other countries have already walked this path. Turkey opened a massive new Istanbul Airport in 2018 that can handle ninety million passengers a year. Saudi Arabia’s expansion of Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International transformed it into a hub for both pilgrims and tourists. Dubai is developing Al Maktoum International into a multi-billion-dollar super hub intended to handle more than two hundred million passengers annually. Each of these airports shows what is possible when ambition meets execution, but also what can go wrong when scale outpaces planning. Istanbul struggled with delays and long transfers in its early months. Dubai’s Al Maktoum remains only partly operational years after launch. These examples show that building big is only half the journey.
However, at home, Ethiopia’s project has stirred controversy. Building a thirty-five-square-kilometre airport means clearing farmland and relocating families. Local reports suggest around two and a half thousand households will need to move to make way for construction. Environmental groups warn that turning such a vast area into concrete could damage wetlands and ecosystems around Lake Bishoftu. So far, a full environmental impact assessment has not been made public, and campaigners are calling for transparency before work begins.
Even with these concerns, investors are watching closely. The African Development Bank has signalled support and discussions are under way for international financing, including potential involvement from American and Gulf partners. If successful, Bishoftu could become a central hub linking Africa to the world, boosting tourism, trade and employment on a scale unseen in the region. But the stakes are high. Infrastructure of this size demands long-term stability and careful management, not just grand vision.
A Future Up in the Air
As a traveller, I find myself split between awe and concern. The idea of stepping into a sleek new terminal in the heart of Africa ready to fly anywhere in the world is thrilling. Yet it is impossible to ignore the people whose homes and landscapes will change forever. If done right, Ethiopia’s mega-airport could redefine African aviation. If not, it risks becoming a monument to overreach. Either way, this skyward dream has already taken off – and the world will be watching where it lands.
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