- The US is actively seeking participation in Ethiopia’s USD12.5 billion Bishoftu International Airport project.
- Ethiopian Airlines has postponed contractor selection for the airport to January 2027.
- The African Development Bank is coordinating financing and has pledged USD500 million.
- Ethiopian Airlines has ordered additional Boeing 787-9s, with US officials linking this to airport participation.
- No loan agreements have been signed, with financing decisions expected by March 2027.
The United States has been pushing to secure strong participation for American companies in the construction of Ethiopia’s new USD12.5 billion Bishoftu International Airport, with officials linking the project to expanded Boeing aircraft orders for Ethiopian Airlines . Mark Mitchell, US deputy assistant secretary of commerce for the Middle East and Africa, disclosed during a virtual media briefing on 29 July that the airport under construction 45km outside Addis Ababa had been discussed during meetings with the Ethiopian government and Ethiopian Airlines . “Across agencies, the US government is committed to exploring ways to support the realisation of this transformative project,” Mitchell stated, adding that the Department of Commerce had “closely engaged in pushing to secure strong United States participation” . Mitchell described the project as “remarkable and very exciting as an undertaking for the company, and indeed the country” .
Ethiopian Airlines Group has completed the prequalification stage for the engineering, procurement, construction, and financing (EPC-F) contracts covering the four main work packages of the planned airport facility . The shortlisted bidders, comprising a mix of major international construction firms and joint ventures from China, Europe, the Middle East, Türkiye, India, and Russia, will now advance to the next stage of the tender process . Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew confirmed that the selection of contractors had been postponed from August 2026 to early January 2027 after prospective bidders requested additional time to prepare proposals and secure financing . The project, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects with four parallel runways, officially broke ground in January 2026 and aims to become Africa’s largest aviation hub upon completion in 2029 .
The African Development Bank, which is coordinating the financing process, has pledged USD500 million and is leading efforts to raise USD8.7 billion . Ethiopian Airlines requires over USD9 billion in external financing for the airport project, with funding expected from a consortium of international lenders rather than a single institution . Mesfin Tasew stressed that no financing agreements had been signed or finalised, emphasising that the interest shown by lenders remained non-binding until each institution completes its internal appraisal . The airline recently converted options for six B787-9s into firm orders with Boeing, finalising commitments first announced in 2023, and currently awaits delivery of 26 aircraft of the type .
Mark Mitchell shared: “We’re excited about what that airport’s expansion portends for the airline’s growth, meaning more Boeing aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines connecting Africa to the world further.”
