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Ethiopia has signed an agreement for the design of a new four-runway airport that will be Africa’s biggest when construction is completed in 2029. Noted by the head of state-owned Ethiopian Airlines, the design is set to revolutionize Africa’s aviation industry. Located near the town of Bishoftu, around 45km from the capital, Addis Ababa, the airport will have the capacity to handle 100 million passengers annually. Furthermore, it will provide parking for 270 aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines’ CEO Mesfin Tasew told a news conference. Dubai-based engineering and consulting firm Sidara will design the airport. This insight was noted by the company’s director of operations, Tariq Al Qanni. Plans to build the airport were first announced in 2018 but have taken time to implement. However, with the designs and proper procedures put in place, construction is expected to commence soon.
The Significance of Africa’s Biggest Airport
Africa’s biggest airport is expected to have immense significance and potential, not only for Ethiopia but also for the continent. For Ethiopia, the airport will complement the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, which is currently one of the largest. Mesfin said Bole Addis Ababa International Airport will soon reach its capacity of serving 25 million passengers annually. The airport is also the current main hub for Africa’s biggest airline. “It is a five-year project that will be finalized in 2029. It will be the biggest in Africa,” Mesfin said.“Phase 1 alone will cost at least $6bn. The money will come through loans, and there are companies that have already shown interest,” he added. Ethiopian Airlines carried 17 million passengers in the 2023/2024 financial year and expects to have 20 million passengers in the financial year that started in July. The airport is expected to position East Africa as a main aviation hub due to the influx expected once the airport is completed.
The State of Affairs Regarding Such a Project
The construction of Africa’s biggest airport is met with mixed reactions, but most accolade it as a landmark in Africa. Africa’s aviation market is gaining momentum after faring poorly due to several decades of underinvestment and mismanagement. Furthermore, air transportation has poor safety records. With sweeping changes brought in by regional and global development banks, including the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, accountability and transparency have flourished, along with foreign investment.The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Director General Tony Tyler once highlighted the true potential for growth across the continent, stating that aviation is the “lifeblood of Africa.” The aviation industry currently supports 6.9 million jobs and offers nearly $80bn in GDP. However, challenges and troubles remain, such as ill-conceived regulation, poor safety oversight, and inadequate and costly infrastructure. Furthermore, restrictive air service agreements also pose a significant detriment. Africa’s biggest airport seeks to quash the sentiments of the ney-sayers and establish its dominance on a continental and global scale.
Other Significant Aviation Projects Across the African Continent
Other than Ethiopia’s ambition to construct Africa’s biggest airport, other African nations are closing in on them. For instance, Angola International Airport, built near Quatro de Fevereiro Airport, is expected to be larger and more modern. Khartoum International Airport’s expansion project, currently under construction 25 miles outside of Khartoum, aims to increase capacity. Furthermore, Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport expansion, backed by the Export-Import Bank of China, is also being implemented. The project is set to revolutionize Uganda’s aviation industry with a total cost of $552.9m, including runway construction, terminal modernization, and airfield lighting. |
