The African Development Bank (AfDB) announced on Monday that it would contribute $500 million to the development of an airport near the Ethiopian capital, which is expected to be the continent's largest.
The AfDB estimates that the large transit center in Bishoftu, around 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of the capital Addis Ababa, will cost $10 billion and handle some 110 million passengers per year when completed.
According to the Official Aviation Guide, Egypt's Cairo International Airport was Africa's busiest in 2024, followed by Johannesburg's O. R. Tambo in South Africa.
The Bishoftu hub, partially funded by national airline Ethiopian Airlines, is expected to replace the capital's Bole Airport, which can serve up to 25 million people per year.
Construction is set to commence at the end of 2025.
The Bank has itself set aside up to $500 million, pending Board clearance, to anchor the financing, according to the AfDB.
According to the statement, the airport is a significant regional integration project that will promote continental integration and connectedness.
Ethiopian Airlines, the continent's biggest airline, generated $7. 6 billion in revenue in the 2024/25 fiscal year.
The African Development Bank (AfDB), created in 1964, is one of the world's largest multilateral development banks.
It is funded by member subscriptions, loans obtained on global markets, and loan reimbursements and interest.
