Ethiopian Airlines is moving closer to awarding key contracts for the development of its new, state-of-the-art airport infrastructure. According to a company report, a significant group of Chinese construction firms has secured prominent positions on the shortlist of preselected candidates.
Located southeast of the capital, Addis Ababa, the project requires an estimated investment of $12.5 billion. The primary objective of this facility is to relieve congestion at the carrier’s current hub, Bole International Airport (ADD), while massively expanding operational capacity in the region. Upon completion in 2030, local authorities project the site will become the largest airport on the African continent, featuring an estimated annual capacity of 110 million passengers.
Chinese Dominance on the Shortlist
Following the award of the design contract for the four-runway layout in January, the carrier is now defining the construction phase for the terminal, support facilities, airfield, and roadway connections.
Established Asian conglomerates lead the shortlist, participating in 15 of the 33 preselected bids. Prominent firms from China include:
- China Communications Construction Company (CCCC)
- China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC)
- China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC)
- Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG)
The shortlisted bidders will now advance to the final tendering stage.
International Competition and Multilateral Financing
Chinese corporations will face competition in this final phase from a strong lineup of international consortia based in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Competing entities include:
- Italy: Webuild
- France: Vinci
- South Korea: Samsung C&T
- Turkey: Kalyon and IC Ictas
On the financial front, the African Development Bank (AfDB) is among the institutions structuring the financing package for the megaproject, committing a direct contribution expected at $500 million.
Competition in the East African Aviation Market
The development of this new hub comes in response to accelerating regional dynamics. Neighboring countries such as Kenya and Rwanda are actively competing and investing in their own aviation infrastructure to drive international trade, tourism, and transport across East Africa.
With the launching of the tendering phase, Ethiopian Airlines takes a decisive step toward consolidating its operational and logistical dominance in the region for the decade ahead.
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