Why US support for Ethiopia’s $10bn mega-airport project matters
October 2, 2025
Following a state visit to Ethiopia, US Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, has announced support for the construction of what has been designed as Africa’s biggest airport.
Located around 40km from Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa in Bishoftu the new airport is expected to cost around $10 billion. Spanning 35 sq. km. the airport will be built in phases, with phase one consisting of a 1.1million sq.m. terminal with capacity for up to 60 million passengers per year. The second phase will see the terminal expanded to handle up to 100 million passengers per year. More than 100,000 sq.m of cargo facilities are also being built to handle up to 3.73 million tonnes of cargo annually.
Addis Ababa’s existing Bole International Airport currently has the capacity to handle around 19 million passengers annually.
US signals support for Bishoftu International Airport
Speaking at a press conference at the New York Foreign Press Center on 29 September, alongside Jonathan Pratt, Senior Bureau Chief of the Bureau of African Affairs, Massad Boulos confirmed the US support for the project. The two advisors were discussing ‘Advancing Trump Administration Priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa.’
“I have just come back from Ethiopia… where we talked about our support to the new airport project,” said Boulos.
“It’s going to be probably the biggest airport in the Africa and one of the biggest in the world. It’s a USD$10 billion project, probably more.”
Why does the US’ support for Ethiopia’s new airport matter?
The US’s support for the new airport marks President Donald Trump’s first major business initiative in the Horn of Africa – a region that sits on key global trade and military routes. It also underlines the US intent to strengthen ties and support the development of Africa’s regional infrastructure to counterbalance China’s Belt and Road Initiative investments in the continent’s infrastructure.
Ethiopia, with its flag-carrying airline, is already widely considered a leader in Africa’s aviation sector. The new mega-airport in Bishoftu will position the country to rival hubs elsewhere including Morocco and in the Middle East.
The US’ support for the project also signals confidence in Ethiopia’s stability, its future growth and its leadership, encouraging other investors to follow.
Boulos also referenced that The Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and other institutions are supporting the airport project.
U.S. Pledges Support for $10bn Airport Project in Ethiopia, Considered Trump's First Major Horn of Africa https://t.co/bLJbWCPwqS pic.twitter.com/8fx5q6xJSf
— allAfrica.com (@allafrica) October 2, 2025
Ethiopia’s new airport already backed by African Development Bank
In August, Ethiopian Airlines Group and the African Development Bank Group signed a mandated lead arranger agreement authorising the AfDB to lead the financing effort to mobilise up to $8 billion for the new Bishoftu International Airport. The African Development Bank will also provide $500 million, subject to board approval.
AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said the Bishoftu airport project would boost the continent’s role in global aviation, while helping expand Ethiopian Airlines’ operational and fleet capacity.
Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Mesfin Tasew described the financing agreement as a “decisive step” forward to creating a pan-African gateway.
U.S. Pledges Support for $10bn Airport Project in Ethiopia, Considered Trump's First Major Horn of Africa https://t.co/bLJbWCPwqS pic.twitter.com/8fx5q6xJSf
— allAfrica.com (@allafrica) October 2, 2025
During his briefing on 29 September Boulos further underlined the Trump administration’s support for Boeing and the US manufacturer’s relationship with Ethiopia’s national airline. “We are working closely with many projects relating to Boeing. Boeing has a very, very strong partnership, as we know with Ethiopian Airlines, with Royal Air Maroc, with many other airlines across the continent, including in Gabon, Angola and the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) – and many others, too numerous to list,” Boulos said.
What is the timeline for the construction of Bishoftu International Airport ?
Bishoftu International Airport airport is currently slated for completion in 2029 with site clearance and earthworks expected to begin before the end of 2025 and major construction due to commence in 2027. Once operational, all international airline and cargo operations are expected to relocate from the existing airport Bole to this new facility. Bole will then handle domestic flights. The new airport will also feature an airport city with shopping malls, recreational areas and direct rail and road links with Addis Ababa.
