AfDB Tapped to Lead Funding Drive for Ethiopia's $7.8 Billion Mega-Airport
BaseLine Team
08 Aug, 2025
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is appointed to mobilize resources for the $7.8 billion Bishoftu International Airport project in Ethiopia.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is expected to sign the official partnership on Monday with Akinwumi Adesina, AfDB president.
Located 40km south of Addis Ababa, the airport will be the continent’s largest once completed.
It will open with capacity for 60 million passengers annually, eventually expanding to 110 million, far exceeding the throughput of Africa’s busiest current hubs, which handle between 18 million and 29 million passengers a year.
Construction of the first phase is expected to begin in late 2025. The new facility will serve as a major hub for international, regional, and cargo traffic, while the capital’s Bole International Airport will pivot to domestic operations.
Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s largest carrier, is banking on the airport as a cornerstone of its Vision 2035 growth plan, focusing on network expansion, infrastructure investment, and workforce development.
The project aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Single Air Transport Market, both of which aim to deepen continental integration and connectivity.
