The UK’s Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and Beirut-headquartered consultant Dar Al-Handasah have won a design consultancy contract for Africa’s largest airport, to be located south of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa in Abusera.
The airport’s first phase is estimated to cost US$6bn. It will accommodate 60 million passengers annually, rising to 110 million in later phases.
The client is Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline.
The 600,000-sq-m airport will complement the airline’s current home at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, which has limited capacity to expand.
A ZHA press release states that the new airport will have an Ethiopian look inspired by the local landscape.
A new express railway will connect the airport to central Addis Ababa.
It will contain green features such as on-site renewable power generation, natural ventilation and rainwater re-use and storage.
Cristiano Ceccato, ZHA’s director of aviation, said: “The new airport at Abusera will be a global gateway for Africa and place Ethiopia at the very heart of the continent’s transportation networks.”
ZHA and Dar Al-Handasah will work with Pascall+Watson Architects, aviation specialists Landrum & Brown and engineers TY Lin on the project.
The first phase of the airport is due to be completed in 2029.
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