In a landmark moment for Africa’s aviation sector, Ethiopia today presented the flagship Bishoftu International Airport (BIA) project to global financiers and investors during the Africa Investment Forum held in Rabat, Morocco. The unveiling generated robust interest across development financiers, commercial banks, export-credit agencies, and institutional investors — reinforcing BIA’s potential to become a continental and global aviation gateway.
Bishoftu International Airport, a Vision for Africa’s Future, represents a greenfield mega-infrastructure initiative spearheaded by Ethiopian Airlines Group (EAG), in partnership with African Development Bank (AfDB), technical consultants and financial advisers. The airport will be located near Abusera — approximately 40 km south of Addis Ababa.
Phase I of the project, valued at around USD 12.5 billion, aims to deliver an airport capable of handling 60 million passengers annually. On full development, BIA is designed to scale up to 110 million passengers per year, positioning it as the largest airport in Africa.
Beyond passenger traffic, the airport will also support substantial cargo throughput and broader airport-city infrastructure, including cargo terminals, logistics, retail, hospitality, and direct connectivity via rail and expressway to Addis Ababa.
Under a financing agreement signed earlier this year, AfDB was appointed as the mandated lead arranger, global coordinator, and bookrunner for the project. At the showcase, investors and lenders from across Africa, Europe, North Anerica, Asia, and beyond expressed keen interest in participating — reflecting growing confidence in Africa’s infrastructure investment landscape and the strategic importance of BIA for future trade, travel, and continental connectivity.
Representatives from multilateral development institutions, export-credit agencies, commercial banks, and construction/engineering firms engaged with the project sponsors, reviewing the Project Information Memorandum, financial model, and risk-allocation framework — a critical milestone as the project moves from planning to procurement and execution.
BIA is more than an airport — it is envisioned as a transformative engine for economic growth, trade, tourism, and regional integration across Africa. The project aligns with broader continental priorities, including enhanced intra-African connectivity and mobility under pan-African integration frameworks.
Once operational, BIA will relieve growing pressure on the existing Bole International Airport, unlock capacity constraints, and enable Ethiopia — and Africa — to better connect globally. The airport city surrounding BIA is expected to create thousands of jobs during construction and operation, stimulate investment in logistics, hospitality, commerce, and support socioeconomic development.
The presentation of BIA at the Africa Investment Forum marks a major step in the project’s timeline — offering global investors, development finance institutions, export-credit agencies, and commercial lenders a comprehensive view of the project’s financial, technical, and strategic underpinnings. EAG formally released the Project Information Memorandum and financial model to prospective lenders, and prequalification of EPC contractors is underway with bid submissions expected by mid-December 2025.
“Bishoftu International Airport marks a historic leap in Africa’s aviation journey,” said Ethiopia’s Finance Minister in a message accompanying the presentation. “With its cutting-edge technology, sustainable design, and unparalleled connectivity, BIA positions Ethiopia to become the aviation capital of Africa — a major gateway connecting the continent to the world.”
Ethiopian Airlines and its partners invite interested financiers, institutional investors, commercial lenders, and export-credit agencies to engage with the project, review the investment package, and contribute to what is poised to become one of Africa’s most ambitious infrastructure undertakings — delivering economic transformation, regional connectivity, and global integration.
Source : Ministry of Finance-Ethiopia
