Addis Ababa, August 11, 2025 (FMC) – Ethiopian Airlines Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB) signed a Mandate Letter today for financing of the Abusera Mega Airport Project at Bishoftu.
The ceremony was held at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in the presence of Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, senior government officials, the Airline’s senior executives, AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina, and ministers and diplomats of various African.countries.
The project aims to build Africa’s largest airport, located 40 kilometers south of Addis Ababa.
The new airport will feature four runways and advanced passenger and cargo facilities.
Upon completing its first phase, Bishoftu International Airport will handle 60 million passengers annually, more than double the capacity of Africa’s busiest airports like Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo and Cairo International. The full build-out will increase capacity to 110 million passengers per year, ranking it among the world’s largest aviation hubs.
Integrated rail and expressway links will connect the airport to the capital, ensuring efficient passenger and cargo movement.
The Abusera Mega Airport Project aligns with broader African Union goals, particularly Agenda 2063 and the African Single Air Transport Market (SAATM), which aim to boost intra-African connectivity, reduce travel times, and promote economic integration.
The project is expected to stimulate economic growth, create thousands of jobs, and enhance regional trade and tourism, supporting Ethiopia’s Vision 2035 to become a continental aviation hub.
Ethiopian Airlines views the project as central to expanding its global network, modernizing infrastructure, and enhancing competitiveness.
The partnership with AfDB demonstrates a shared commitment to sustainable development and economic progress in Ethiopia and the region.