Ethiopian Airlines Group has announced an ambitious plan to construct Africa’s largest airport in Abusera, as part of its 15-year strategy to become one of the world’s leading aviation groups. This new airport is strategically positioned to support the airline’s anticipated growth, which aligns with the International Air Transport Association’s forecast of over 200% growth in the next decade. The project will expand beyond the capacity of Bole International Airport, which is currently constrained by its inability to expand further.
The choice of Abusera offers several advantages, including a lower altitude that will enhance aircraft take-off performance. Additionally, an express rail link connecting the airport to Addis Ababa will ensure seamless connectivity.
In its initial phase, set for completion by 2029, the airport will have the capacity to handle 60 million passengers annually—nearly triple the volume of Africa’s busiest airport today. This expansion will not only accommodate Ethiopian Airlines’ growing fleet and customer base but also create thousands of jobs. Ultimately, the airport is expected to serve 110 million passengers annually, quadrupling the capacity of Bole International Airport.
Ethiopian Airlines’ CEO, Mesfin Tasew, commented, “This new airport, with its remarkable capacity and state-of-the-art facilities, is set to revolutionize African aviation.”
To bring this transformative project to life, Ethiopian Airlines has contracted a consortium led by Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners) for consultancy services. The consortium includes Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), Pascall+Watson Architects, Landrum & Brown, and TY Lin.
This consortium combines expertise from Sidara, a global leader in aviation, and ZHA, renowned for its innovative designs and acclaimed airport projects. Pascall+Watson Architects also brings extensive experience, having completed over 2,000 aviation projects across 70 airports worldwide.
Together, these companies will provide technical advisory, engineering, project management, and construction supervision for the airport’s extensive facilities, including 600,000 square meters of passenger areas, 126,000 square meters of airline support facilities, two Code 4E parallel runways, and other essential airport infrastructure.
