Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s leading airline, has signed a technical advisory and consulting agreement with Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), a partner of world-renowned architectural firm Zaha Hadid Architects, to commence the planning and supervision of a Mega Airport City at Abusera in the town of Bishoftu.
Located just 40 km from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, this state-of-the-art airport city will revolutionize air travel in Ethiopia. Once completed, the new airport is expected to have a capacity of 110 million passengers per year, four times the current capacity of Bole International Airport.
Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, announced the Mega Airport City project, highlighting its role in establishing Ethiopia as a global aviation hub. “The project will not only improve connectivity, but also boost economic growth and highlight environmentally sustainable practices in our country and beyond, reflecting the airline’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. With its exceptional capacity and world-class facilities, this new airport promises to add value to African aviation and strengthen partnerships, representing a significant advancement for the region’s aviation infrastructure.”
Tariq Al-Qanni, Operations Manager of Dar in Ethiopia, said: “We are honoured to partner with Ethiopian Airlines on this visionary new airport, which will create vital global air connections, accelerate economic growth in Ethiopia and make Ethiopian Airlines Africa’s most strategic and competitive aviation group.”
In its first phase, scheduled for completion in 2029, the contract is expected to position Ethiopia as the leading global gateway to Africa, with a capacity of 60 million passengers, almost three times the number of passengers registered at Africa’s busiest airport, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, in 2022. Ultimately, the new airport’s capacity will handle 110 million passengers per year, quadrupling the capacity of Bole International Airport.
The Mega Airport City will have a 1.1 million square meter terminal with passenger facilities, 126,190 square meters for airline support and over 100,000 square meters for cargo and airport facilities. There will also be an associated airfield and other key airport infrastructure.
The new airport is lower than the current main Addis Ababa airport, which is located at one of the highest altitudes in the world, creating unique operational challenges for aircraft. The architectural team will incorporate elements of Ethiopian heritage to create a new, iconic structure for the country – a people-centric, intuitive airport that is characterized by sustainability, resilience and future-readiness. Ethiopian Airlines remains true to its commitment to elevate the customer experience to unprecedented levels and ensure that every journey is marked by excellence and innovation.
Information Dar
Dar provides design, planning, engineering and management services for buildings, cities, transport and civil infrastructure projects. Dar, TYLin and Landrum & Brown are part of Sidara, a global alliance of industry-leading firms that have advised 23 of the world’s 30 largest airports and delivered projects at over 300 airports, including Bole International Airport in Ethiopia and strategic global hubs such as Dubai International Airport. Zaha Hadid Architects brings award-winning capabilities and a global track record in iconic airport projects, while Pascall+Watson Architects has successfully completed more than 2,000 aviation projects at 70 airports in 35 countries.
