Addis Ababa: Ethiopia has started construction work on a massive new airport that officials say will become the largest in Africa, marking a major step in the country’s push to strengthen its position as a key aviation hub.

The new airport is being built near Bishoftu, about 45 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa. The project is expected to cost around 12.5 billion dollars and is planned to be completed by 2030.

According to the government, the airport will have four runways and the capacity to handle up to 110 million passengers a year. It will also be able to park around 270 aircraft at a time. This is more than four times the capacity of the current Bole International Airport, which is nearing its limits due to rapid growth in passenger traffic.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the project is the largest aviation infrastructure development ever undertaken in Africa. He described it as a long term investment that will support economic growth, trade and tourism, while easing pressure on the existing airport in the capital.

The first phase of the project has already begun with earthworks, costing about 610 million dollars. Full scale construction is expected to start later this year.

National carrier Ethiopian Airlines will fund around 30 percent of the project. The remaining amount will come from international lenders. The African Development Bank has committed 500 million dollars and is helping to raise additional funding from partners in the Middle East, Europe, China and the United States.

Officials said thousands of local farmers have already been resettled to make way for the project, with compensation provided by the government.

Ethiopia aims to turn the new airport into a major global gateway linking Africa with Europe, Asia and the Americas. With air travel demand continuing to rise, authorities believe the project will play a central role in the country’s economic future and regional connectivity.