A new African mega airport city is set to be built in Ethiopia.
Once complete, this will become the African continent’s largest aviation hub.
AFRICAN MEGA AIRPORT CITY
The new airport will be located outside the capital, Addis Ababa, near Bishoftu city.
The site is 25 miles away from the country’s capital.
The existing airport, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, is located 4 miles southeast of the city centre and 40 miles north of Bishoftu.
The existing airport is situated at an altitude of 2 334 meters, making it one of the highest airports in the world.
MORE SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS
Bole Airport’s elevation impacts fuel burn and therefore increases carbon emissions.
However, the new mega airport city will be constructed on a 35 square kilometer patch of land, at a lower elevation.
This is expected to reduce fuel consumption and even enable flights of a greater distance.
This is mainly due to the lower elevation of the airport.
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES
Ethiopia’s national airline, Ethiopian Airlines, is spearheading the development of the new mega city airport.
The carrier is indeed the biggest airline operating in Africa.
It has a large fleet, offering an extensive global route network.
The new airport infrastructure will enable Ethiopian Airlines to expand even further.
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AFRICAN MEGA AIRPORT CITY
The project has been named ‘Mega Airport City’, and aims to boost Ethiopia’s economic growth.
Ethiopian Airlines and Dar Al-Handasah Consultants reached a deal earlier this year for the design and oversight of the project.
Once complete, the airport is expected to process up to 110 million passengers per year.
This is four times the current capacity of Bole International Airport.
NEW AIRPORT FACILITY
Under current plans, the project’s first phase should be completed by 2029, according to The Express.
The new airport will come complete with a four-runway configuration and a state-of-the-art terminal.
Significantly, Mega Airport City will feature a 1.1 million square meter terminal including passenger facilities, 126 190 square meters of airline support facilities and over 100 000 sqm of cargo and airport support facilities.
Moreover, this will benefit the state-owned carrier – which is making headways in global aviation.
The airline has won numerous awards.
“The project will not only enhance connectivity but also drive economic growth and prioritize environmentally responsible practices in our country and beyond.” Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Mesfin Tasew said.
