{"id":409683,"date":"2026-01-14T23:28:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T23:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/409683\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T23:28:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T23:28:16","slug":"zha-launches-construction-of-airport-near-addis-ababa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/409683\/","title":{"rendered":"ZHA launches construction of airport near addis ababa"},"content":{"rendered":"

Construction begins on Africa\u2019s largest airport, designed by zha<\/p>\n

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Ethiopian Airlines Group begins construction on what is set to become Africa\u2019s largest airport<\/a>, Bishoftu International Airport (BIA), designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) <\/a>and located around 40 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa. With an initial annual capacity of 60 million passengers, rising to 110 million once fully built, the project marks a major infrastructural shift for the country, positioning Ethiopia as a central aviation hub between Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The architectural concept draws from Ethiopia\u2019s geography and cultural diversity. A central spine organizes the terminal and its piers, reducing transfer times while acting as a spatial anchor. Each pier features distinct interior material palettes and colors, referencing the country\u2019s varied regions. The overall layout takes inspiration from the Great Rift Valley, which runs close to Bishoftu, using a continuous linear geometry to organize the complex and simplify wayfinding.<\/p>\n

\"ZHA
all renderings by X-Universe<\/p>\n

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planned around transfer passengers and long layovers<\/p>\n

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Designed by the international design firm<\/a> ZHA in collaboration with lead consultant and airport planner<\/a> DAR (Dar Al-Handasah), the new terminal is conceived primarily around transfer travel. Ethiopian Airlines estimates that up to 80% of future passengers will be in transit, moving between destinations without leaving the airport. In response, the terminal integrates extensive amenities for long layovers, including an airside hotel with 350 rooms, dining and entertainment zones, and outdoor gardens and courtyards.<\/p>\n

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BIA\u2019s location also plays a strategic operational role. Sitting nearly 400 meters lower in elevation than Addis Ababa\u2019s existing Bole International Airport, and paired with longer runways, the new site will allow aircraft to take off with higher maximum payloads using less fuel. This will enable Ethiopian Airlines to operate longer nonstop routes while carrying more passengers and cargo, a logistical advantage that directly influences the airline\u2019s future network planning.<\/p>\n

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Environmental performance has been embedded into the planning of the project, with the terminal targeting LEED Gold certification. The building will be naturally ventilated, incorporate solar shading, and include semi-open and outdoor spaces that respond to the region\u2019s temperate highland climate. Water management systems will redirect stormwater from runways and rooftops into wetlands and bioswales, supporting reuse while contributing to local biodiversity. Photovoltaic arrays will generate on-site energy, and construction will rely on modular methods using locally produced or recycled materials.<\/p>\n

\"ZHA
the terminal unfolds from a central spine, with branching piers arranged to shorten transfer distances<\/p>\n

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Phased construction toward a four-runway hub<\/p>\n

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Beyond aviation, the airport is conceived as the anchor of a broader urban development. A high-speed rail link will connect BIA with central Addis Ababa and the existing Bole Airport, while an adjacent Airport City will introduce mixed-use buildings, public parks, and employment opportunities for a projected local population of 80,000. Designed for 24-hour operation without curfews, the new hub aligns with Ethiopian Airlines\u2019 long-term Vision 2035 strategy, which seeks to expand the airline\u2019s passenger, cargo, and maintenance services globally.<\/p>\n

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Cristiano Ceccato de Sabata, director of aviation at Zaha Hadid Architects, frames the project in broader social terms. \u2018Bishoftu International Airport is a visionary project for Ethiopia and Africa as a whole. Airports bring people together and bridge national divides. ZHA is honored to be part its development\u2014connecting every region of the continent as Africa\u2019s global gateway,\u2019 he shares.<\/p>\n

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The first phase of Bishoftu International Airport is scheduled to open in 2030, featuring two independently operating parallel runways and a 660,000-square-meter terminal. Later stages will expand the complex to four runways and parking for 270 aircraft, reflecting the scale of growth forecast by IATA for East Africa over the coming decade.<\/p>\n

\"ZHA
the landside forecourt integrates gardens, water features, and shaded pedestrian routes<\/p>\n

\"ZHA
a covered retail promenade combines structural ribs with integrated planting<\/p>\n

\"ZHA
a vertically layered atrium filters daylight through a ribbed roof structure<\/p>\n

\"ZHA
departure lounges form continuous open-plan interiors beneath a daylight-filtering canopy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Construction begins on Africa\u2019s largest airport, designed by zha \u00a0 Ethiopian Airlines Group begins construction on what is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":409684,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[75479,76,354,355,49,48,356,75,23422],"class_list":{"0":"post-409683","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-airport-architecture-and-design","9":"tag-arts","10":"tag-arts-and-design","11":"tag-artsanddesign","12":"tag-ca","13":"tag-canada","14":"tag-design","15":"tag-entertainment","16":"tag-zaha-hadid"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=409683"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409683\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/409684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=409683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=409683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=409683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}