Ethiopian Airlines has signed a contract with a consulting firm to design a new “mega airport” in Ethiopia that will have the capacity to handle 110m passengers annually, which is more than four times the current capacity of Addis Ababa International Airport. The project is estimated to cost USD6bn over five years.
CEO Mesfin Tasew said the new airport would accommodate the airline’s growth and achieving its revenue and passenger targets by 2035.
The airline has partnered with Dar Al-Handasah Consultants and Zaha Hadid Architects to design and supervise the project, with the aim of boosting expansion plans and establishing Ethiopia as an international aviation hub.
The new airport will be located in Abusera, 40 kilometers south of Addis Ababa, and when the first phase is completed in 2029, it will have a capacity of 60m passengers. The project, labeled a “mega airport city,” will include a large terminal building, airline support facilities, cargo facilities, and an airfield to elevate African aviation and strengthen partnerships in the region.
Operating from the existing Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) at an elevation of 7,550 ft (2,300 m) affecting the aircraft’s load-carrying capacity and poses challenges due to limited engine performance caused by changes in air density at higher altitudes.
Optimisation of density altitude is crucial to counteract the reduced engine efficiency. The maximum temperature threshold that engine turbines can endure further restricts engine performance, implying that engines rated at a set thrust at sea level produce less thrust at high-altitude airports. This reduced performance necessitates increased fuel consumption and longer takeoff runways.
Additionally, high-altitude conditions, influencing the chosen location for fuel stops in a third country.
Route planning considerations, such as the overall flight distance and balancing long-term economic agreements with fuel-stop airports, play a crucial role in optimizing operations and impacting the airline’s financial performance. Attention to intricate details in aircraft performance parameters is essential for efficient and economically viable flight operations.
Ethiopian Airlines modified its refuelling stop from Dublin to Rome between for its Washington service. The Dublin airport passenger cap has delayed Ethiopian’s return to Ireland.
