AfDB pledges $500M for Ethiopia’s $10B mega airport near Bishoftu, with Ethiopian Airlines investing 20% to serve 100M passengers.
AfDB Pledges $500M for Ethiopia’s Mega Airport
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed $500 million to help finance a $10 billion mega airport near Bishoftu, Ethiopia. The project, scheduled for completion in 2029, is expected to be Africa’s largest and handle up to 100 million passengers annually.
Ethiopian Airlines Takes a Stake
Flag carrier Ethiopian Airlines will contribute 20% of the total investment, according to CEO Mesfin Tasew. “This airport will be a game-changer for Africa’s aviation hub ambitions,” Tasew said during the announcement in Addis Ababa.
Strategic Impact on Ethiopia and the Region
The new hub will rival existing African gateways such as Johannesburg’s OR Tambo and Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Analysts say it could strengthen Ethiopia’s role in regional integration, boost tourism, and create thousands of jobs in construction, logistics, and services. AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina called it “an investment in Africa’s connectivity and competitiveness.”