A Chinese bank has committed $500 million to support the construction of Ethiopia’s planned multibillion-dollar airport at Bishoftu, a project set to become the largest aviation hub in Africa.
Ethiopian Airlines Group chief executive Mesfin Tasew Bekele confirmed the funding pledge but did not name the lender. He described the commitment as an important step forward for the project, which is expected to cost around $10 billion, funded through a mix of debt and equity.
Africa’s largest carrier has already secured $500 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and is seeking additional backing from a range of international partners as well as self-financing.
When including land acquisition, resettlement and financing expenses, the total investment for the airport rises to $12.5 billion. The remaining financing gap for private-sector participation could reach $8 billion.
Mr Mesfin said interest from global lenders has been “very, very positive”, with the airline holding discussions in the US, European Union and Middle East.
The project, located around 40km southwest of Addis Ababa, is intended to relieve capacity pressures at the capital’s existing Bole International Airport and strengthen Ethiopia’s position in regional and global aviation.
Designed to handle 110 million passengers annually, the new airport would surpass all existing African hubs, attracting significant attention from US, European and Chinese financiers.
The Chinese commitment underscores growing competition among international actors seeking a role in one of Africa’s largest infrastructure undertakings.
While the airline has not disclosed outcomes from recent talks in Paris, continued engagements abroad — including ongoing discussions in Rabat — indicate a wide-ranging push to secure diversified funding for the flagship project.