Ethiopian Airlines Group announced the official construction commencement of Bishoftu International Airport. Construction has begun in the last days following an official groundbreaking ceremony. 

The historic event was graced by His Excellency  Abiy Ahmed, the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, ministers, high level government officials, industry leaders, stakeholders, and Ethiopian Airlines executives.

Ethiopian also unveiled the airport’s design and highlighted the successful completion of the resettlement and livelihood restoration project for the affected communities of the project area. FDRE Prime Minister, His Excellency Abiy Ahmed alongside high-level government officials, and Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO,  Mesfin Tasew, placed the plaque marking the official commencement of the construction. 

In his remarks, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the day as a milestone in Ethiopia’s journey toward modernization and prosperity. He noted that Ethiopian Airlines is a source of national pride, not because it has been free of challenges, but because of its resilience, its ability to overcome obstacles, and its role as a trailblazer for Africa. He emphasized that the airline’s greatest strength lies in its strong corporate culture, built on: Giving priority to safety and security, leadership driven by creativity and hard work, a workforce of over 26,000 employees who believe in the airline as their flag carrier and honor what it represents, a continuous commitment to learning and capacity building.

Bishoftu International Airport stands as a defining project for both Ethiopian and African aviation, facilitating trade, tourism, and people-to-people interactions within Africa and beyond. Phase One of the project is expected to be completed by 2030 and will accommodate 60 million passengers annually and when fully completed it will have the capacity to handle 110 million passengers.