Ethiopian Airlines inks consultancy contract for new $6bn Abusera International Airport

Ethiopian Airlines plans to build one of Africa's largest airports with the new Abusera International Airport, featuring four runways. It signed a design consultancy contract for Ethiopia's new global hub airport to consortium led by Dar, with Zaha Hadid Architects, Pascall+Watson Architects, Landrum&Brown, and TY Lin. The airport will be located outside of the capital Addis Ababa and is scheduled for its first phase in 2029. The airline's CEO Mesfin Tasew had told reporters at the event that the first phase would cost ""at least $6bn"", Reuters said. Tasew said the airport will be financed through loans with companies already showing interest. In its first phase, the airport will have the capacity for 60 million passengers annually. It will also feature around 600,000 square metres of passenger facilities, A release from Dar said: ""Ultimately, the new airport will host 110 million passengers a year – quadrupling the capacity of Bole International Airport and bolstering Ethiopian Airlines’ position as one of Africa’s greatest airlines."" It added: ""It will unlock the airline’s potential that is currently restricted within their existing base at Bole International Airport which offers no possibilities for significant expansion. The new airport’s location allows for progressive growth to meet future demand."" ""With its exceptional capacity and world-class facilities, this new airport promises to elevate African aviation,"" said Tasew. Ethiopian Airlines expects to carry approximately 20 million passengers in the current fiscal year, having carried over 17 million last year.