The new airport’s location allows for progressive growth to meet future demand, while its lower altitude above sea level will enhance aircraft performance at take-off. This will enable Ethiopian Airlines to take full advantage of its ultra-modern fleet to carry more passengers and cargo to more global destinations on longer-range, non-stop flights, using less fuel.

In its first phase scheduled for completion in 2029, the airport will have capacity for 60 million passengers annually – almost three times larger than Africa’s current busiest airport - creating thousands of new jobs to serve Ethiopian Airlines’ expanding customer base and fleet. Ultimately, the new airport will be designed to serve 110 million domestic, international and transferring passengers each year – four times the capacity of the existing Bole airport to meet Ethiopian Airlines’ growth forecasts.

To deliver this transformational new project, Ethiopian Airlines has awarded a technical advisory and consultancy contract to a consortium of architecture, engineering, and project management firms led by Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), in partnership with world-renowned designers ZHA and Pascall+Watson Architects, along with aviation specialists Landrum & Brown and engineers TY Lin.

Dar, TY Lin, and Landrum & Brown are part of Sidara, a global collaborative of industry-leading firms that ranks 1st in the aviation sector (Engineering News Record 2023). Sidara companies have advised on 23 of the top 30 global airports and delivered projects in over 300 airports, including Ethiopia’s Bole International Airport as well as strategic global hubs such as Dubai International Airport.

ZHA brings award-winning design capabilities and a global track-record of acclaimed airport projects, while Pascall+Watson Architects has successfully completed more than 2,000 aviation projects across 70 airports in 35 countries.

Collectively, these companies will cover technical advisory, engineering, project management, and construction supervision services for 600,000 sq. m of passenger facilities, 126,000 sq. m of airline support facilities, two Code 4E parallel runways along with associated airfield infrastructure, over 100,000 sq. m of cargo and airport support facilities, and other major airport facilities and infrastructure.

The design team will draw on local culture to create one of the world’s most efficient international transport hubs with a distinctly Ethiopian signature. Shaped by the landscapes of Abusera, the design will bring nature into the heart of the terminal.

Served by a new express rail link to the centre of Addis Ababa, the airport at Abusera will combine proven innovations in aviation architecture with ecologically sound materials and sustainable construction practices. Providing the highest standards of passenger experience, the airport’s terminal will be intuitive to navigate and characterized by its future-readiness with on-site renewable power generation, natural ventilation, as well as the collection, storage and re-use of rainwater across the site.