Overview

• AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina and Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew signed the financing mandate at a ceremony in Addis Ababa on August 11
• The Bank will lead structuring of up to $8 billion in debt financing and has earmarked $500 million pending board approval to anchor the fund
• Bishoftu International Airport is designed to open with annual capacity for 60 million passengers and scale to 110 million, exceeding volumes at Africa’s current busiest hubs
• Phase one construction is scheduled to start in late 2025, with Bishoftu handling international, regional and cargo flights and Bole International Airport shifting to domestic services
• The project underpins Ethiopian Airlines’ Vision 2035 and aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and Single Air Transport Market initiative