Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew has announced that the groundbreaking ceremony for a new mega international airport in Bishoftu is scheduled for this weekend.

In an exclusive interview with the Pulse of Africa, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew revealed that the groundbreaking ceremony for the new mega airport in Bishoftu is scheduled for this week.

This ambitious project aims to transform Ethiopia's aviation landscape and position the country as a leading hub for international air travel.

Ethiopian Airlines has been operating out of Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa for several decades. However, as the airline's operations expanded, the airport reached its capacity limits.

"Bole International Airport has become too small and has become crowded with passengers," said CEO Mesfin Tasew.

"We have been expanding this airport for the last several decades, but it has reached the limit where it cannot be upgraded further because the airport has become at the center of the city."

The project comes at a time when Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier and among the top 30 globally, is experiencing rapid growth. Currently valued at around 8 billion USD, the airline is projected to expand to nearly 30 billion USD by 2040.

The Bishoftu Airport City is designed to accommodate this growth, providing the infrastructure necessary to compete with international aviation giants such as Emirates and Qatar Airways.

The new airport, situated approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, will initially handle 60 million passengers annually, with plans for future expansion exceeding 100 million. It will feature multiple runways, extensive cargo facilities, and state-of-the-art terminals, reinforcing Ethiopia’s position as a key aviation hub on the African continent.

Experts predict that the Bishoftu International Airport City will have wide-reaching economic impacts. According to Zemedeneh Nigatu, even a fraction of the airline’s 20 million annual passengers visiting Ethiopia could generate a million new tourists each year, significantly boosting the country’s economy.

The 10 billion USD investment is expected to create thousands of direct jobs in construction, aviation, logistics, hospitality, and retail, with additional indirect employment opportunities across the region. Moreover, the airport city will strengthen Ethiopia’s position as a regional economic and investment hub, attracting both global and domestic investors.

Ethiopian Airlines itself is a major foreign currency earner for the country, and the new airport is expected to enhance these earnings, contributing significantly to national revenue.