On Saturday, 10 January 2026, a landmark ceremony was held in Bishoftu City, Abusera, officially marking the commencement of construction of Ethiopia’s new international airport, one that is envisioned to become the largest airport in Africa once complete.

Valued at approximately USD 12.5 billion, Ethiopia’s new Bishoftu International Airport represents one of the most significant aviation infrastructure developments ever undertaken on the African continent. Designed to support Ethiopian Airlines’ vision as a global aviation hub, the new airport also forms a critical pillar of Ethiopian Airlines Group’s long-term growth strategy, addressing the capacity limitations of Bole International Airport while enabling phased and progressive expansion to meet rapidly increasing passenger and cargo demand.

The ceremony represented the first public unveiling of the airport’s design, including architectural renderings, animations, and a physical model illustrating the key components of the development and showcasing, on the global scale, the project’s ambition and strategic importance to Ethiopia and the African continent.

In its first phase, the airport is planned to accommodate 60 million passengers annually, with ultimate capacity reaching 110 million passengers per year, positioning it as the largest airport in Africa by projected passenger capacity at full build-out. Located at a lower altitude than Addis Ababa, the Bishoftu site offers significant operational advantages, improving aircraft performance and fuel efficiency while supporting long-haul and non-stop connectivity and even empowering stakeholders to benefit from the region’s arid climate, mild temperatures, and abundant sunshine to facilitate a comprehensive renewable energy strategy. The airport is expected to:

• Triple the number of passengers to more than 60 million
• Double the fleet size to 270 aircraft
• Increase the number of international destinations served to over 200
• Expand cargo capacity to three million tons of cargo

Dar is serving as the lead consultant for the project, leading a multidisciplinary consortium comprising Zaha Hadid Architects, Pascall+Watson Architects, and Sidara sister companies Landrum & Brown and TYLin, Penspen, and Introba. Together, the consortium is responsible for delivering the airport’s master plan and the full design of the development, as well as providing technical advisory, engineering, project management, and construction supervision services.

The architectural concept for the terminal building, concourse, ground transportation centre, control tower, and Airport City was developed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The design approach draws on Ethiopia’s landscape, culture, and climate, delivering a people-centric, intuitive, and future-ready airport that integrates sustainability, resilience, and operational excellence.

The project includes more than 600,000 m² of passenger facilities, extensive airline and airport support infrastructure, cargo and logistics facilities, two parallel runways, airfield systems, utilities, and off-site connections. The airport is supported by integrated road and rail links to Addis Ababa and incorporates an Airport City with commercial, hospitality, and community amenities.

This development further builds on Dar’s long-standing partnership with Ethiopian Airlines and its deep-rooted presence in Ethiopia, contributing to a development that will strengthen regional connectivity, catalyse economic growth, and establish a new benchmark for aviation infrastructure across Africa.