The development comes as Ethiopia's current main hub, Bole Addis Ababa International Airport, approaches its capacity limit of 25 million passengers per year.
Ethiopia is set to become home to Africa's largest airport, with the signing of an agreement for the design of a new four-runway facility near Bishoftu, just outside the capital Addis Ababa.
The ambitious project, announced in 2018, is expected to be operational by 2029 and will boast a capacity of 100 million passengers annually, surpassing all existing African airports.
"This is a five-year project that will be the biggest in Africa," stated Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest airline.
He added, "Phase one alone will cost at least $6 billion... The money will come through loans, and there are already companies that already showed interest."
Dubai-based engineering firm Sidara will lead the design process of the new airport, which will also offer parking space for 270 aircraft.
