### Ethiopia's Ambitious Leap: Building Africa's Largest Airport Ethiopia has embarked on an ambitious project to construct what it claims will be Africa's largest airport, located in Bishoftu. The project, with an estimated cost of **$12.5 to $12.7 billion**, aims to significantly enhance the country's aviation capacity, accommodating up to **110 million passengers annually** once fully operational. This new hub is expected to replace the existing Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, which has been facing capacity constraints due to increasing air traffic demands. The completion of this project is anticipated by **2030** [https://www.turkiyetoday.com/lifestyle/ethiopia-starts-building-new-airport-it-says-will-be-africas-biggest-3212748][https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/bishoftu-new-airport-ethiopia-africa-b2898003.html][https://punchng.com/ethiopia-begins-work-on-12-7bn-africas-biggest-airport]. ### Project Overview and Structure 1. **Project Initiation**: Construction officially began on **January 10, 2026**, with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launching the project [https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/01/2026/ethiopia-begins-construction-of-africas-biggest-airport-pm]. 2. **Financial Aspects**: The project is estimated to cost between **$12.5 billion and $12.7 billion**, reflecting the scale and ambition of the initiative [https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2026/01/10/ethiopia-launches-ambitious-12-5-billion-hub-to-build-africas-biggest-airport]. 3. **Capacity Goals**: The new airport is designed to handle **110 million passengers** annually, which is more than four times the capacity of the current main airport [https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/bishoftu-new-airport-ethiopia-africa-b2898003.html]. 4. **Strategic Importance**: This project aims to alleviate the growing capacity constraints at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and position Ethiopia as a key aviation hub in Africa [https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/ethiopia/268991/ethiopia-breaks-ground-on-africas-largest-airport-project-in-bishoftu]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Cost Estimates**: - Project cost: **$12.5 billion to $12.7 billion** [https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/bishoftu-new-airport-ethiopia-africa-b2898003.html][https://punchng.com/ethiopia-begins-work-on-12-7bn-africas-biggest-airport]. - **Passenger Capacity**: - Expected capacity: **110 million passengers annually** [https://www.turkiyetoday.com/lifestyle/ethiopia-starts-building-new-airport-it-says-will-be-africas-biggest-3212748]. - **Completion Timeline**: - Anticipated completion year: **2030** [https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2026/01/10/ethiopia-launches-ambitious-12-5-billion-hub-to-build-africas-biggest-airport]. ### Conclusion: A Transformative Step for Ethiopian Aviation In summary, Ethiopia's construction of Africa's largest airport represents a transformative step for the nation's aviation sector. The project is poised to: 1. **Enhance Capacity**: Address the current limitations of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. 2. **Boost Economic Growth**: Facilitate increased air traffic and tourism, potentially driving economic development. 3. **Position Ethiopia as a Regional Hub**: Establish the country as a central player in African aviation. This ambitious initiative, with a projected completion date of **2030**, underscores Ethiopia's commitment to expanding its infrastructure and enhancing its global connectivity [https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/01/2026/ethiopia-begins-construction-of-africas-biggest-airport-pm][https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/ethiopia/268991/ethiopia-breaks-ground-on-africas-largest-airport-project-in-bishoftu].