Addis Ababa, November 3, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s new international airport project has been presented as a landmark investment opportunity during a dedicated session of the EU–Ethiopia Investment Forum held in Paris, drawing strong interest from European partners and investors.
The session, featuring the Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group (EAG) Mr. Mesfin Tasew along with representatives from Dar and KPMG, highlighted the project’s strategic importance for Ethiopia’s aviation and logistics sectors.
Participants underscored that the new airport, to be built in Bishoftu, will serve as a major regional hub—enhancing connectivity, facilitating trade, and driving economic growth across Africa, it has been learned.
Ethiopia’s Finance Minister Ahmed Shide emphasized that the world-class facility will not only strengthen the East African nation’s position as a key aviation hub but also act as a gateway to progress, prosperity, and global integration.
Airbus Head for Africa Federico Bulwto, who took part in the session, expressed Airbus’s interest in expanding its collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines.
“The Bishoftu project will unlock the full potential of Ethiopian Airlines Group to become a truly global connector, comparable to leading carriers such as Emirates and Qatar Airways,” he said.
The session provided a platform for in-depth dialogue between Ethiopian and European stakeholders and showcased the project as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in a transformative national infrastructure that will shape the future of Ethiopia’s aviation industry.
The Bishoftu International Airport, being developed by the Ethiopian Airlines Group at an estimated total cost of US$10 billion, is designed to become one of Africa’s largest and most modern aviation hubs.
Located about 40 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, the facility will feature multiple runways, advanced passenger and cargo terminals, and integrated logistics zones.
At full build-out, the airport is expected to handle over 130 million passengers annually and several million tonnes of cargo. Once operational, it will generate tens of thousands of jobs and significantly boost Ethiopia’s foreign exchange earnings, trade, and tourism receipts.