Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in a speech in the House of Representatives of the People’s Assembly, noted that construction has begun on what is billed as Africa’s largest airport.
“We have started steps to build Africa’s largest airport,” he said.
Local media published on Sputnik revealed that the ambitious new airport will be connected to existing infrastructure via rail transport.
Additionally, Addis Insight reported that Ethiopian Airlines has ordered 124 new aircraft. The Prime Minister also made an announcement.
“Ordering 124 aircraft is no small feat. This is an amazing achievement,” the Ethiopian leader said.
“This expansion will not only solidify Ethiopian Airlines’ position as Africa’s largest airline, but also establish it as a leading company with extensive airport facilities,” he added.
In early August, the president of the national airline, Mesfin Tesso, revealed that Ethiopia had reached an agreement to design a new airport with four runways.
Africa’s largest airport
The initial vision was to build an airport capable of accommodating 80 million passengers a year, but the project was pivoted to handle 100 million passengers a year and park 270 aircraft.
Sidara, a Dubai-based engineering and consulting firm, was contracted to design the airport, said Tariq Al Qaani, the company’s head of operations.
The airline is scheduled for completion in 2029.
The ambitious airport will be built near the town of Bishoftu, about 45 kilometers from the capital Addis Ababa.
Ethiopian Airlines plans to carry approximately 17 million passengers in the 2023/2024 fiscal year and increase that number to 20 million next year.
The company is one of the few airlines operating the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which offers a more comfortable and environmentally friendly flying experience.
Ethiopian Airlines is known for its superior service and first-class facilities, earning it a coveted four-star rating from Skytrax.
