Ethiopia Airlines signs deal for design of biggest airport in Africa
Ethiopian Airlines has signed a deal with Dubai-based engineering and consulting business, Sidara, to design a new airport that will be the largest in Africa. The airport, which will be located around 45 kilometers from the country's capital Addis Ababa, is expected to accommodate 100 million passengers annually and have space for 270 aircraft.
The current main hub for Ethiopian Airlines, Bole Addis Ababa International Airport, is expected to reach its capacity of serving 25-million passengers per year soon. To address this, the airline has been planning to build a new airport since 2018. The new airport is expected to be a major hub for the airline and will help to increase its passenger capacity.
The design of the airport will be handled by Sidara, a Dubai-based engineering and consulting business. The airport is expected to be a five-year project that will be finalized in 2029. The first phase of the project alone is expected to cost at least $6 billion, which will be financed through loans. Several companies have already shown interest in financing the project.
The new airport is expected to have a significant impact on the airline's operations and the country's economy. It will provide a major boost to the airline's passenger capacity and will help to increase its competitiveness in the region. The airport will also create new job opportunities and stimulate economic growth in the country.
Ethiopian Airlines has been experiencing rapid growth in recent years. The airline carried 17 million passengers in the 2023/2024 financial year and expects to carry 20 million passengers in the financial year that started in July. The new airport will help to support the airline's growth plans and will provide a major boost to its operations.
The signing of the deal for the design of the new airport is a major milestone for Ethiopian Airlines. The airport is expected to be a major hub for the airline and will help to increase its passenger capacity. The project is expected to have a significant impact on the airline's operations and the country's economy.
