Overview
- Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed led a foundation ceremony in Abbuu Seeraa, launching construction of the Bishoftu International Airport city about 40 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa.
- Planners describe long‑term capacity of up to 110 million passengers, with Phase 1 targeting roughly 60 million and direct high‑speed links to Bole International Airport.
- Ethiopian Airlines outlines a multi‑phase program estimated at $12.5 billion, with first‑phase completion targeted for 2030 and major construction set to ramp up in August 2026.
- The airline says it will finance about 30% of the project and has committed $610 million to initial earthworks, with the remainder expected from lenders in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, China, and the United States.
- The Oromo Liberation Front alleges a campaign of forced displacement affecting roughly 3,000 households and criticizes a reported 17 billion ETB resettlement budget as inadequate, demanding ownership stakes for affected farmers.