Africa’s leading passenger and cargo carrier inked a contract with Arabian consultancy company, Dar Al-Handasah, to conceive a concept for the construction of a mega airport city 40 km off Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. The project, of which this intended state-of-the-art airport is the centerpiece, is part of Ethiopian Airlines’ (ET) 15-year strategic plan to become one of the most competitive aviation groups in the world. It shall cement Ethiopia’s position as the crossroads of the world’s most rapidly expanding air travel markets – Africa, Asia, and the Middle East – and as Africa’s global transportation hub for the 21st century.
The figures presented by the consultancy team are remarkable. The new Abusera Airport (provisional name) will feature a 1.1 million m² terminal including passenger facilities, 126,190 m² of airline support facilities, and over 100,000 m² of cargo and airport support facilities. It will also include an associated airfield and other essential airport infrastructure such as telecommunications and buildings to house technical services. It will provide parking areas for 270 aircraft.
An express rail link will run from the airport to downtown Addis Ababa. The consortium headed by Dar Al-Handasah, promises to deliver world-class services from concept design to supervision of construction. The airport’s terminal will be intuitive to navigate and characterized by its future-readiness with on-site renewable power generation as well as the collection, storage, and reuse of rainwater. Plans to build the airport were first announced in 2018, but postponed due to the pandemic. However, they are even more urgent now, because Bole Addis Ababa International Airport will soon reach its maximum capacity of 25 million passengers per year.
Africa’s flagship carrier
With more than threefold growth in the past ten years, Ethiopian Airlines has become Africa’s largest carrier – and one of the fastest-growing airlines worldwide. As a result of this steady upswing, it commands the lion’s share of Africa’s cargo and passenger network, operating to more than 150 domestic and international destinations located on five continents.
Upon completion, Abusera Airport is projected to have the capacity to serve 110 million passengers annually, which is four times the current capacity of Bole International Airport. Even if ET management does not provide any information on the expected throughput of air freight once the complex is online, cargo experts expect a strong increase in tonnage and the strengthening of the carrier’s role as a hub airline, connecting domestic African and intercontinental routes via its new airport.
Driver of economic growth
This was emphasized by Ethiopian Airlines’ Group CEO, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, while detailing the plans for the Mega Airport City: “The project will not only enhance connectivity but also drive economic growth and prioritize environmentally responsible practices in our country and beyond, reflecting the airline’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.” The executive pointed out that the new airport promises to lift African aviation and strengthen partnerships, marking a significant advancement for the region’s air travel infrastructure.
Dar’s Director of Operations in Ethiopia, Tariq Al-Qanni replied to this: “We are privileged to be collaborating with Ethiopian Airlines on this visionary new airport, which will provide vital global air connectivity, accelerate economic growth in Ethiopia, and elevate Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s most strategic and most competitive aviation group.”
The airport will display Ethiopian heritage
The first phase is scheduled to be completed in 2029. It will then already be able to handle an annual volume of 60 million passengers.
Abusera Airport is positioned at a lower elevation compared to the current primary hub, Addis Ababa, situated at one of the world’s most elevated locations which results in unique operational challenges for cockpit crew.
As far as its design is concerned, the architectural team will incorporate elements of Ethiopian heritage to establish a new emblematic structure for the nation, a people-centric, intuitive airport characterized by sustainability, resilience, and future-readiness. Ethiopian Airlines remains steadfast in its commitment to elevating customer experience to unprecedented heights, ensuring every journey is marked by excellence and innovation, the airline’s press release promises.
