Infrastructure
Ethiopian Airlines Hires Designer for $6bn Airport City
Dubai-based Sidara will design and supervise construction of new city in Bishoftu.
Ethiopian Airlines has signed a deal with Dubai-based Sidara (formerly Dar Al-Handasah) for the design and construction supervision of a new mega city at Abusera in Bishoftu.
The state-owned airline says the project includes a new city with a four-runway airport, expected to be the largest in Africa when completed in 2029.
An initial investment of at least $6 billion is expected.
The new airport, located 40 km from Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, is expected to process 110 million passengers annually, four times the current capacity of the main hub for Africa’s biggest airline.
“It is a five-year project that will be finalized in 2029. It will be the biggest in Africa,” said Ethiopian Airlines’ Group CEO Mesfin Tasew on Friday.
The facility is expected to place African aviation a notch higher and solidify the partnerships between these countries, making this a great leap for the infrastructure of the airport in this region.
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Commenting on the deal, Sidara’s Director of Operations in Ethiopia Tariq Al-Qanni said his company was privileged to collaborate with Ethiopian Airlines on “this visionary new airport, which will provide vital global air connectivity, accelerate economic growth in Ethiopia.”
Plans for the project were revealed in 2018.
In phase one of the development, expected to be completed in 2029, Ethiopian Airlines is seeking to establish Addis Ababa as one of Africa’s top gateways catering to 60 million passengers per year.
“The Mega Airport City will consist of a terminal area of 1,100,000 sq. m including passenger facilities, 126,190 sq. m of airline support facilities, and over 100,000 sq. m of cargo and airport support facilities,” Ethiopian Airlines said.
The architectural team is expected to incorporate elements of Ethiopian heritage into the design of an iconic new airport, emphasizing sustainability, resilience, and future readiness.
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