Ethiopian Airlines Group

Ethiopian Airlines is the largest air carrier in Africa. The airline experienced double-digit growth over the past decade and projects a similar growth trajectory in the years ahead. Ethiopian Airlines Group (EAG), the owner of Ethiopian Airlines, also owns and operates Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport. With Ethiopian Airlines’ continued growth, EAG expects this airport to exceed its 21 million annual passenger capacity within the next five years.

In preparation, EAG is planning a new airport capable of serving 100 million passengers annually. This new airport will be located in Bishoftu, 25 miles outside of Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa, and will be linked to the city by a planned passenger rail system. 

The new airport will be constructed in three phases at a total estimated cost of $4 billion. The first phase, expected to be completed by 2028, will include two terminals. French engineering and design company Groupe ADP developed the master plan and site selection. CS Ethiopia has been told that the land for this project is expected to be secured by the end of 2023. Once this step is complete, EAG will issue a request for proposal (RFP) in early 2024 for the design, supervision, and project management of the new airport. International bidders are welcome and highly encouraged to seek outside project financing.

With a planned passenger capacity five times what is currently taking place and the significant investments involved, this project represents a massive opportunity for companies in a wide range of fields, including project design and management, heavy machinery supply, passenger rail, aviation ground equipment, baggage handling and cargo/passenger security systems, and a host of ancillary air passenger services including franchise and retail.  

For more information on this opportunity and those associated by this large-scale infrastructure project please contact Teddy Tefera Teddy.tefera@trade.gov