Keypoints:
- Rift Valley garden anchors terminal design
- First phase targets 60m passengers
- Initial opening planned for 2030
ETHIOPIA’S $12.5bn Bishoftu International Airport is taking shape, with newly published architectural details revealing a landscaped terminal spine inspired by the Great Rift Valley and a 60-metre central atrium.
The information adds an architectural and environmental layer to construction of Ethiopia’s $12.5bn mega-airport. The project is intended to ease pressure on Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport and support Ethiopian Airlines’ continued international expansion.
Rift Valley inspires terminal plan
ZHA Architects, the project’s design architect, said the terminal would be organised around a central green spine reflecting Ethiopia’s section of the Great Rift Valley.
The space is expected to include native trees, grass, volcanic rock and water features, creating a landscaped route through arrivals, departures, transfer areas and the landside entrance.
Domus, which interviewed the design team, reported that the garden would help give passengers a strong sense of place while connecting different parts of the terminal.
The development is also planned as part of a wider airport city that will include hospitality, retail, logistics and commercial facilities.
Central atrium supports cooling
At the heart of the terminal will be the Central Beacon, a major internal space designed to connect passenger-processing floors, lounges and circulation areas.
Its atrium is expected to rise about 60 metres internally, while the building’s external height will remain lower because of aviation restrictions.
The structure will also support passive cooling. Warm air will rise through the atrium, helping draw cooler air from the garden into the lower levels of the terminal.
ZHA said shaded roofs, natural ventilation and rainwater collection were included in plans targeting LEED Gold certification.
Capacity built for rapid growth
Ethiopian Airlines says the first phase will cost an estimated $12.5bn and handle 60 million passengers annually.
The wider masterplan is designed for up to 110 million passengers, four runways, parking for 270 aircraft and about 660,000 square metres of terminal space.
The airport will be built near Bishoftu, about 40 kilometres south-east of Addis Ababa, and will operate alongside Bole International Airport.
The project comes as Ethiopian Airlines continues to expand its long-haul fleet, including additional Boeing 787-9 aircraft, illustrating the carrier’s continued international growth.
Financing plan takes shape
Ethiopian Airlines plans to provide 30 percent of the project cost as equity and raise the remaining 70 percent through blended loan financing.
AfDB has been appointed initial mandated lead arranger, global coordinator and bookrunner for the debt package.
The bank’s involvement forms part of a wider push to mobilise private capital for African aviation infrastructure, following its continental aviation investment initiative.
DAR is serving as lead consultant, while ZHA Architects is responsible for the terminal’s architecture, interiors and functional planning.
Timelines point to staged delivery
Ethiopian Airlines says the first phase is expected to be completed by 2030, while ZHA describes that year as the target for an initial opening.
Domus lists 2032 for completion of Phase One, creating a difference between the published project timelines.
The gap may reflect a staged delivery schedule, but neither Ethiopian Airlines nor ZHA has publicly explained the two dates.
If delivered as planned, Bishoftu would significantly expand Ethiopia’s aviation capacity and reinforce Addis Ababa’s role as a transfer hub linking Africa with Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
