Construction Begins on Bishoftu Mega-Airport and Rail Link, Poised to Transform African Aviation
In a landmark move set to reshape the continent’s aviation landscape, work has commenced on Ethiopia’s new mega-airport at Bishoftu, a project positioned to become a critical hub for African air travel over the next decade. The facility, located approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, is strategically planned to address the capacity constraints at the existing Bole International Airport—currently operating near its 25 million annual passenger limit—and to firmly establish Ethiopia as a premier gateway for pan-African and intercontinental traffic.
Central to the project’s innovation is a dedicated 38-kilometer railway connection linking Bishoftu with Addis Ababa and Bole International Airport. The Ethiopian Railway Corporation, the nation’s sole railway development authority, has entrusted the rail project to a local Ethiopian company. This marks a significant milestone for the country, as Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali emphasized during the ceremonial groundbreaking on January 10: unlike previous flagship projects such as the Addis Ababa–Djibouti railway, the Bishoftu rail link will be constructed entirely by domestic firms, highlighting Ethiopia’s growing engineering and construction capabilities.
The planned railway will offer train speeds ranging from 120 to 200 km/h, dramatically improving connectivity and ensuring fast, efficient transfers between the capital city and both airports. For African aviation professionals, this integrated approach signals a new era of seamless multimodal travel and sets a precedent for other countries aiming to enhance airport accessibility and passenger experience.
The new Bishoftu airport itself is a bold undertaking, with a first-phase investment of US\$12.5 billion and architectural design by the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects. Sitting at an altitude of 1,910 meters—roughly 400 meters lower than Bole International Airport—the location promises more favorable operational conditions for widebody aircraft, potentially reducing limitations related to hot-and-high performance and expanding the types of aircraft able to operate efficiently year-round.
Upon its scheduled opening in 2030, the initial phase of the airport will accommodate up to 60 million passengers per year. Long-term plans are even more ambitious, with the ultimate design capacity targeting 110 million annual passengers, of which a projected 80% will be transit travelers. This scale places Bishoftu in direct competition with the world’s largest international hubs and positions Ethiopia as a fulcrum of Africa’s aviation future. For context, the current throughput at Bole International is less than half of the initial target for the new facility, underlining the dramatic leap in ambition and capability.
For the sub-Saharan African tourism and aviation industries, the Bishoftu project is a signal to prepare for substantial shifts in passenger flows, business opportunities, and regional connectivity. The mega-hub is expected to attract new airlines, stimulate investment in hotel and tourism infrastructure, and serve as a catalyst for the development of ancillary services ranging from ground transport to catering and logistics.
This development is particularly timely as African carriers and airports face increasing pressure to modernize and expand in line with global standards. The integration of a high-speed railway and the focus on transfer passengers demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of modern hub dynamics—an approach that could inspire similar projects in other African capitals aiming to capture a larger share of the international transit market.
With construction now underway, the next few years will be crucial for stakeholders across Africa’s travel sector. Ethiopian tourism, aviation, and supporting industries are poised for transformation, and the lessons learned from Bishoftu’s ambitious model will likely reverberate throughout the continent as Africa continues its rise as a global aviation powerhouse.
