Africa's new aviation hub in Addis Ababa to welcome 22 million passengers a year
Ethiopia is soon becoming a major African powerhouse. It now houses Africa's largest aviation hub in the country's capital city Addis Ababa. The expanded Bole International Airport is now set to house 22 million passengers per year. This move will make it Africa's largest airport - ahead of South Africa's O.R. Tambo International Airport.
Ethiopian Airlines, the country's national airline, will benefit enormously from the expansion. Ethiopian airline became Africas largest last year, overtaking South African Airlines to take the top spot.
The project was financed and built by China. The East Asian nation has been involved in multiple large-scale projects across the African continent. These include the construction of the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa and a major railway link between the Kenyan cities Nairobi and Mombasa.
This is just another ambitious move that Ethiopia has recently undertaken in an effort to advance its economy. Ethiopia now aims to innovate even further, and if all goes well, the country hopes to send its first satellite to space by the end of the year!
Did you know?
Ethiopia is the second most populous country on the African continent and also one of the poorest countries in the world. Read our Ethiopia Facts here.
Source: Quartz
Image: Ethiopian Airlines