Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa Bole International Airport has undergone an expansion project that has tripled its passenger capacity.
The US$363 million project – funded and built by China – has boosted capacity from 7 million passengers per annum to 22 million, as reported by Quartz Africa. The airport has also overtaken Dubai as the leading transfer hub for long-haul travel into Africa.
‘The expansion includes additional 86 000 m2 of floor area of space for Terminal 2, around 16 000 m2 for Terminal 1 and around 6 000 m2 for the new VIP terminal,’ according to New Business Ethiopia. ‘The airport [was] expanded with a view to relieve congestion and enhance passengers’ ground-to-air experiences.’
The airport, which is national carrier Ethiopian Airlines’ main hub, is situated in the centre of the East-West trade route.
