Ethiopian Airlines Group has signed a technical advisory and consultancy agreement with Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), an affiliate of Zaha Hadid Architects, to begin the planning and supervision of a ‘mega airport city’ at Abusera in Bishoftu, Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Airlines’ Mega airport city
The mega airport city will have a 1,100,000 m²2 Terminal including passenger facilities, 126,190m2 of airline support facilities and over 100,000m2 of cargo and airport support facilities. It will also include an associated airfield and other key airport infrastructure.
This airport city will be located just 40 km from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, the busiest airport in Africa in 2022. Once completed, it will have a capacity of 110 million passengers per year, four times the current capacity of Addis Ababa Bole. In its first phase, scheduled for completion in 2029, the airport city will have a capacity of 60 million passengers.
Improve the customer experience
The new airport will be lower than the current main airport, which is located at one of the highest locations in the world. According to Ethiopian Airlines Group, this altitude presents unique operational challenges for aircraft.
The architectural team plans to incorporate elements of Ethiopian heritage into the new airport city, creating a new, iconic structure for the country – a people-centered, intuitive airport characterized by sustainability, resilience and future readiness.
Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, commented: “The project will not only improve connectivity but also drive economic growth and highlight environmentally responsible 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 air transport infrastructure.”
Tariq Al-Qanni, Operations Manager of Dar Ethiopia, said: “We are honoured to partner with Ethiopian Airlines on this visionary new airport, which will provide vital global air connectivity, accelerate economic growth in Ethiopia and make Ethiopian Airlines Africa’s most strategic and competitive aviation group.”
For more top insights into creating a world-leading sustainable airport city, click here: Passenger terminal today‘S Exclusive interview with Gert-Jan de Graaff, CEO of Brisbane Airport Corporation, here.
