The African Development Bank is set to lead efforts to raise $7.8bn for a new airport in Ethiopia, which when completed in 2029, will be the continent's largest with the capacity to handle 100 million passengers annually.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina are set to formally mark the appointment of the bank as mandated lead arranger for the financing of the proposed Bishoftu International Airport.
“The appointment of the African Development Bank as lead arranger reflects its catalytic role in advancing strategic infrastructure across the continent and its proven leadership in structuring complex transactions,” the bank said on August 7.
Located in Abusera, 40 kilometres south of Addis Ababa, the airport will have an initial passenger capacity of 60 million annually, expanding to 110 million in later phases. By comparison, Africa’s busiest airports currently handle between 18 million and 29 million passengers a year.
Construction of the first phase is expected to begin in late 2025. Once operational, Bishoftu International Airport will serve as a major hub for international, regional, and cargo traffic, complementing the existing Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, which will refocus on domestic services.
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, views the new facility as a key pillar of its ‘Vision 2035’ growth strategy.
The development also aligns with the ‘African Union’s Agenda 2063’ and the ‘Single African Air Transport Market’, which are both aimed at enhancing continental connectivity and integration.