The African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed to providing up to $500 million to support the construction of a massive new airport in Ethiopia—an infrastructure project expected to become the largest on the African continent.
The state-owned Ethiopian Airlines is spearheading the development of the facility near Bishoftu, roughly 45 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa.
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The new hub will feature four runways and is projected to handle more than 100 million passengers annually once fully operational.
Ethiopian Airlines will cover 20% of the $10 billion project cost, with the balance sourced from creditors.
In a statement cited by Reuters, AfDB described its pledged funding—still awaiting board approval—as an “anchor investment” for a “transformational regional integration project.”
The bank, which recently revealed plans to lead efforts in raising $7.8 billion for the initiative, will serve as the lead arranger, highlighting what it calls its “catalytic role in advancing strategic infrastructure across the continent” and its proven capacity to manage complex transactions.
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Scheduled for completion in 2029, the Bishoftu airport is central to Ethiopian Airlines’ aggressive growth strategy.
Already Africa’s largest carrier, the airline placed orders for 124 new aircraft in 2024 as part of its ambition to consolidate dominance in the region’s aviation market.
When completed, the project is expected to surpass existing African airports in both passenger capacity and scale, further positioning Ethiopia as a major aviation hub for the continent.
Image Credit: NigerianFLIGHTDECK
