Ethiopia to Get Futuristic Airport Worth $12.5 Billion

(Patria) - In early January, the cornerstone was laid near the town of Bishoftu in Ethiopia for the largest airport in Africa, or at least what is intended to become the largest airport on the second largest continent in the world.



Bishoftu International Airport is envisioned as a major aviation hub in Africa, initially serving around 60 million people annually, with plans to serve over 100 million in a later phase of the project, writes Punkufer.



The Bishoftu International Airport complex is planned to include four to five parallel runways, parking for 270 aircraft, an expanded cargo terminal, as well as an Airport City with a hotel, shopping mall, restaurants, cafes, and other catering facilities, along with facilities for aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul.



The airport's design was created by Zaha Hadid Architects from Great Britain, and in line with their aesthetic, it is a striking futuristic structure that will be located on volcanic land – approximately 60 kilometers south of Addis Ababa.



Bishoftu International Airport will cover approximately 660,000 square meters in an X shape. The architectural firm emphasizes that this shape is not only an aesthetically attractive solution but also a functional choice as it facilitates navigation and movement within the building.



"Inspired by the Great Rift Valley that passes near Bishoftu, we have designed a central axis that connects all terminal facilities, thereby shortening transfer distances and allowing passengers to easily orient themselves towards the next exit," stated Zaha Hadid Architects.



The project is worth $12.5 billion, will be built by Ethiopian Airlines Group using locally sourced materials, and it is estimated that the airport will be completed by 2030.