Recent satellite images showed excavation and paving work at the “Bishoftu International Airport” project site in Ethiopia, as part of a government plan to develop the aviation infrastructure and increase the capacity of passenger and freight traffic in the country.
The project is located in the town of Bishoftu, about 45 kilometers southeast of the capital, Addis Ababa, and its investment cost is estimated at about 12.5 billion dollars, according to the data announced about the project.
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According to the announced timetable, Ethiopia aims to complete the main construction stages by 2030, allowing it to relieve pressure on the current airport in Addis Ababa and keep pace with the expansion of Ethiopian Airlines activity.
Space monitoring
The Al Jazeera Network’s open source unit conducted a sequential tracking of the project site via satellite images, extending from last January until this June, to monitor the changes that occurred on the land designated for the airport and its facilities.
Photos from January 2026 show the beginnings of work on the site, including defining the target area and preparing parts of the land to begin excavation and paving work.
At the beginning of the year, the area included agricultural lands and open areas, then a recent satellite image, taken on June 13, revealed the spread of engineering machinery and equipment, the bulldozing of parts of the soil, and the opening of work fronts within the scope of the project.
Geographical measurements conducted by the unit indicate that the area of the site designated for the airport and its facilities is approximately 35.6 square kilometers.
Site transformation
Comparison of satellite images shows that the most prominent change in the site is the transition of large parts of the land from agricultural use and open areas to a construction work site, in which modern dirt paths, bulldozing areas, and gatherings of machinery appear.
The pictures alone do not reveal the details of all construction stages or the precise implementation schedules, but they monitor the start of clear field activity within the scope of the project, in accordance with the official statements that spoke of the project entering the groundworks stage.
The latest photo of the site shows areas that have been leveled or prepared, along with temporary internal roads used by mechanisms to reach the digging and paving areas.
Official statements
Commenting on this, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a post on the “X” platform that the construction work of Bishoftu International Airport is taking place at a continuous pace, indicating that the project is part of his country’s plans to develop the aviation sector.
According to statements reported by the Ethiopian News Agency after his inspection of the work site, Abiy Ahmed said that the project includes an extended construction workshop, in which more than 8,000 workers participate, and within which approximately 4,000 vehicles and heavy machinery move.
He added that the project management relies on digital systems to monitor the progress of work, including drones, virtual control rooms, and real-time data panels to track the movement of equipment.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister also said that the government is working to take into account the conditions of the local communities surrounding the project, stressing that the construction work will not harm farmers in the region.
Project goal
The Ethiopian government is presenting the project as a step to expand the country’s capacity to accommodate air traffic, in light of the growth in Ethiopian Airlines activity and increased pressure on Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.
According to the announced data, Ethiopia aims for the new airport to increase the operational capacity of the aviation sector, and to provide a wider space for international flights, air cargo, and airport-related services.
The government says that the completion of the project will allow the airport to receive about 110 million passengers annually, a number that represents the announced operational goal after the completion of the project, not the current capacity of the site, which is still in the construction work stage.
Project financing
Director of Infrastructure Development and Planning at Ethiopian Airlines, Abraham Tesfaye, said that the company will bear 30% of the project cost, and the remaining percentage will be financed through international lenders.
Tesfaye added that the company has allocated $610 million for engineering excavation work, which is expected to be completed within a year, with the main contractors starting construction work in August 2026, according to the announced schedule.
The initial estimated cost of the project was $10 billion, and then increased to, with modifications to the project scope and technical specifications.
A CNN report indicates that it will be the largest airport in Africa, and quoted Abiy Ahmed as saying that the airport is the largest aviation infrastructure project in the history of Africa.
Among the parties involved in financing the project is the African Development Bank, which announced last August its intention to contribute about $500 million and lead efforts to mobilize financing amounting to $8.7 billion.
Tesfaye pointed out that there is interest from lenders in the Middle East, Europe, China and the United States to participate in financing the project.
