Ethiopian Airlines and Dar Al-Handasah collaborate on revolutionary mega airport city

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Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s leading airline, has signed a technical advisory and consulting agreement with Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners) in collaboration with world-renowned architectural firm Zaha Hadid Architects to plan and supervise the construction of a Mega Airport City in Abusera, Bishoftu.

Located just 40 km from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, this state-of-the-art airport city will transform air travel in Ethiopia. Once completed, the new airport is expected to handle 110 million passengers per year, quadrupling the current capacity of Bole International Airport.

Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, announced the Mega Airport City project, highlighting its role in establishing Ethiopia as a global aviation hub. “The project will not only improve connectivity, but also boost economic growth and highlight environmentally sustainable practices in our country and beyond, reflecting the airline’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. With its exceptional capacity and world-class facilities, this new airport promises to add value to African aviation and strengthen partnerships, representing a significant advancement for the region’s aviation infrastructure.”

Tariq Al-Qanni, Operations Manager of Dar in Ethiopia, said: “We are honoured to partner with Ethiopian Airlines on this visionary new airport, which will create vital global air connections, accelerate economic growth in Ethiopia and make Ethiopian Airlines Africa’s most strategic and competitive aviation group.”

The first phase of the project, scheduled for completion in 2029, will position Ethiopia as the main gateway to Africa and will have a capacity of 60 million passengers – almost three times the passenger volume recorded by Africa’s busiest airport, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, in 2022. Ultimately, the airport will be able to handle 110 million passengers per year, significantly increasing its capacity.

The Mega Airport City will feature a 1.1 million square meter terminal with state-of-the-art passenger facilities, 126,190 square meters of airline facilities and over 100,000 square meters for cargo and airport services. There will also be an associated airfield and other key infrastructure.

Strategically located at a lower altitude than Addis Ababa, one of the highest airports in the world, the new airport will address the unique operational challenges presented by its current main hub. The architectural design will incorporate elements of Ethiopian heritage, creating an iconic and people-centric airport that emphasizes sustainability, resilience and future-proofing. Ethiopian Airlines is committed to enhancing the customer experience and ensuring that every journey meets the highest standards of excellence and innovation.