Ethiopia intends to start international flights from secondary airports to lessen dependency on Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and ease traffic at the capital’s hub.
International flights are anticipated to be handled at secondary airports in Mekelle, Dire Dawa, Harar, Bale Robe, Asosa, and other locations.
To discuss operational issues and promote private sector involvement, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, under the direction of Alemu Sime (PhD), met with private air operators in conjunction with Yohannes Abera, Director General of the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority.
More private operator participation, according to officials, would help essential industries like tourism, logistics, industry, and agriculture.
The initiative aims to promote regional trade, investment, and tourism—including the Hajj, Umrah, and cultural pilgrimages to Lalibela, Gondar, and Jerusalem—and will enable passengers to avoid Addis Ababa for outbound travel routes.
According to the ministry, increased demand for air travel has made capacity expansion urgent.
Construction of a mega airport in Bishoftu
On August 11, the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and Ethiopia signed a historic agreement.
The deal will focus on the AfDB’s crucial role in raising significant funds for Ethiopia’s ambitious new international airport in Bishoftu, 40 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina attended the ceremony, which marks a significant milestone in the realisation of Africa’s largest airport, which can handle up to 110 million passengers when fully operational.
This will support Ethiopia’s vision for unmatched aviation leadership in Africa and further accelerate Ethiopian Airlines’ strong growth trajectory.
Expansion of Ethiopian Airlines
Techpression reported in July that Ethiopian Airlines placed orders for approximately 120 new aircraft from the aviation behemoths Boeing and Airbus to support its aggressive expansion of routes and flight frequencies, significantly expanding its fleet.
Mesfin Tassew, the airline’s group CEO, stated that this significant investment is a crucial component of the carrier’s “Vision 2035” strategic plan, which aims to solidify its position as a global aviation leader.
The confirmed orders include Airbus A350 aircraft, Boeing’s cutting-edge 787, and the most recent 777X models.
With plans to purchase more 100-seat aircraft, Ethiopian is actively evaluating options for its regional fleet, including wide-body and narrow-body jets. New orders are anticipated shortly in this segment.
Ethiopian Airlines’ massive fleet expansion clearly indicates its intention to increase flight frequencies and expand the reach of its route network.
The significant growth in the number of aircraft shows a plan to improve connections and strengthen its presence in different areas, such as passenger and cargo transport, logistics, aviation training, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, even though they haven’t mentioned specific new routes or increased flight frequencies.