Ethiopian Airlines on Saturday started construction on the planned Bishoftu International Airport, which officials say will be the biggest airport in Africa once completed. It will serve as the nation’s main international gateway, while Addis Ababa Bole International Airport – currently the country’s largest – will prioritize domestic flights. Phase one of construction at Bishoftu is expected to be completed by 2030, Ethiopian Airlines officials said. At that stage, the facility will be able to accommodate 60 million passengers annually, surpassing Cairo International Airport in Egypt and O. R. Tambo International Airport in South Africa, currently Africa’s busiest airports. Ethiopian Airlines is the largest airline in Africa by passenger volume.

Source: Ethiopian News January 12, 2026 17:18 UTC