Ethiopian Airlines Group to build Africa’s largest airport to meet theairlines' growth forecasts. Design consultancy contract for new airport awarded to the consortium ledby DAR and Zaha Hadid Architects. US$6 billion phase one of new airport in Abusera will serve 60 million passengers annually with further phases serving up to 110 million passengers each year.
Ethiopian Airlines Group has announced plans to build Africa’s largest airport in Abusera, south of the capital Addis Ababa – cementing Ethiopia’s position as thecrossroads of Africa, Asia and the Middle East (the world’s most rapidly expanding sectors of air travel) with a global transportation hub for the 21st Century.
Achieving more than threefold growth in the past ten years and targeting similar expansion over coming decades, Ethiopian has become Africa’s largest airline - and one of the fastest-growing airlines worldwide operating to more than 150 domestic andinternational destinations across five continents. A key member of the Star Alliance - theworld’s largest airline alliance - Ethiopian is implementing its 15-year strategic plan tobecome one of the leading and most competitive aviation groups in the world.
Meeting International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts for East Africa of more than 200% growth over the next decade, the airport at Abusera will unlock Ethiopian Airlines' potential beyond their current base at Bole International Airportwhich has no possibilities for significant expansion.
The new airport’s location allows for progressive growth to meet future demand, while its lower altitude above sea level will enhance aircraft performance at take-off. This will enable Ethiopian Airlines to take full advantage of its ultra-modern fleet to carry more passengers and cargo to more global destinations on longer-range, non-stop flights, using less fuel.
In its first phase scheduled for completion in 2029, the airport will have capacity for 60 million passengers annually – almost three times larger than Africa’s current busiest airport - creating thousands of new jobs to serve Ethiopian Airlines’ expanding customer base and fleet. Ultimately, the new airport will be designed to serve 110 million domestic, international and transferring passengers each year – four times the capacity of the existing Bole airport to meet Ethiopian Airlines’ growth forecasts.
To deliver this transformational new project, Ethiopian Airlines has awarded a technical advisory and consultancy contract to a consortium of architecture, engineering, andproject management firms led by Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), in partnership with world-renowned designers Zaha Hadid Architects and Pascall+Watson Architects, along with aviation specialists Landrum & Brown and engineers TY Lin.
Dar, TY Lin, and Landrum & Brown are part of Sidara, a global collaborative of industry-leading firms that ranks 1st in the aviation sector (Engineering News Record 2023). Sidara companies have advised on 23 of the top 30 global airports and delivered projects in over 300 airports, including Ethiopia’s Bole International Airport as well as strategic global hubs such as Dubai International Airport.
Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) brings award-winning design capabilities and a globaltrack-record of acclaimed airport projects, while Pascall+Watson Architects has successfully completed more than 2,000 aviation projects across 70 airports in 35 countries.
Collectively, these companies will cover technical advisory, engineering, project management, and construction supervision services for 600,000 sq. m of passenger facilities, 126,000 sq. m of airline support facilities, two Code 4E parallel runways along with associated airfield infrastructure, over 100,000 sq. m of cargo and airport support facilities, and other major airport facilities and infrastructure.
Ethiopian Airlines’ CEO Mesfin Tasew stated: “With its exceptional capacity and world-class facilities, this new airport promises to elevate African aviation.”
Dar’s Director of Operations in Ethiopia Tariq Al-Qanni stated, “We are privileged to be supporting Ethiopian Airlines on this visionary new airport, which will provide vital global air connectivity, accelerate economic growth in Ethiopia, and elevate EthiopianAirlines into Africa’s most strategic and most competitive aviation group.”
ZHA’s Director of Aviation, Cristiano Ceccato, said, “The new airport at Abusera will be a global gateway for Africa and place Ethiopia at the very heart of the continent’s transportation networks; connecting communities around the world with the most integrated air transport system. We are honoured to be part of this amazing project forEthiopia.”
The design team will draw on local culture to create one of the world’s most efficient international transport hubs with a distinctly Ethiopian signature. Shaped by thelandscapes of Abusera, the design will bring nature into the heart of the terminal.
Served by a new express rail link to the centre of Addis Ababa, the airport at Abusera will combine proven innovations in aviation architecture with ecologically sound materials and sustainable construction practices. Providing the highest standards of passenger experience, the airport’s terminal will be intuitive to navigate andcharacterized by its future-readiness with on-site renewable power generation, natural ventilation, as well as the collection, storage and re-use of rainwater across the site.
Client: Ethiopian Airlines
Total investment (Phase 1): USD $6 billion
Funding: Banking loans, aviation investors developers (airport and rail)
Project Team: DAR, ZHA, Pascall+Watson, TY Lin, Landrum & Brown.
ZHA Project Directors: Cristiano Ceccato, Paul Brislin
ZHA Scope: Terminal planning, architecture, operations concept, ATC Tower architecture & planning, Ancillary facilities layout and design.
Runways: Phase 1: 2x ICAO Code E (CAT III); Phase 2: 4x (double parallel)
Site area: 35 sq km
Terminal Phase 1: 60 MAP capacity, 600,000 sq m. Phase 2: 110 MAP, ~1m sq m
270 stands of which ~80 MARS contact stands
Ancillary facilities: Hotel, MRO, GTC, Cargo, ATCT: 127,000 sq m
Phase 1 completion: 2029
