Bishoftu Airport: Construction Begins For Africa’s Largest Aviation Hub

Construction for the Bishoftu International Airport, a landmark in African aviation, is officially underway. Positioned as the continent’s largest-ever airport project, the airport is being planned as a completely-integrated “Airport City” in Africa, boasting cargo hubs, hotels, commercial zones, logistics parks, and maintenance units. The project is being led by Ethiopian Airlines in partnership with the Ethiopian government.

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Bishoftu International Airport: What to expect

Unveiling the design of Bishoftu International Airport.
Africa’s Global Gateway redefined. #FlyEthiopian pic.twitter.com/pRb0koBNkA

— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) January 10, 2026

UK-based Studio Zaha Hadid Architects has commenced construction work on the airport – the largest aviation project in Africa’s history – in the Ethiopian city of Bishoftu. Key design elements that have surfaced presently include:

• Each pier of the airport will exhibit a distinctive design language and colour palette, reflecting the diverse regions of Ethiopia.
• All the terminals will be designed around the “central spine”, mirroring the Great Rift Valley, which stretches from the Middle East to East Africa. This will shrink transfer time and distance, and also optimise movement between terminals.
• The airport will also offer world-class amenities for transiting passengers. This includes outdoor areas featuring native plants, airside hotels, and a range of diners.

The terminal is also being designed to achieve the LEED Gold Status, the second-highest certification level awarded by the US Green Building Council, according to a report by Dezeen.

The project cost is being estimated at INR 1.14 lakh cr (MYR 51 billion). Upon completion, the airport, which is endeavouring to become a key aviation link between Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, will be able to handle 110 million passengers annually. It will boast a parking capacity for 270 aircraft.

The airport is being constructed in phases, with the first phase slated for completion by 2030. It’ll be able to accommodate roughly 60 million passengers annually.

(Feature image credit: Zaha Hadid Architects)

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Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.

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