Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Airlines, the largest and fastest-growing airline fleet in Africa, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with DAR, an international consulting company to develop design for the construction its six billion USD new airport.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew and the Director of DAR, Tariq Al Qanni signed the MoU in Addis Ababa to develop the design of the mega airport which will be the largest in Africa.
Speaking at the occasion, Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said the airport, which covers an area of 35 square km, will be built in Bishoftu town, Oromia region at a place locally known as Abusera.
The CEO pointed out that the new mega airport project will have four runways and has a capacity to accommodate 100 million passengers per year upon completion in five years in two phases.
“The first phase includes the construction of the airport facility with a capacity of 60 million passengers per year and the completion of phase two of the airport project will grow to handling more tha
n 100 million passengers per year.”
Dar is also expected to carry out supervision activities of the construction works in addition to design development.
“The scope of the agreement is for DAR to design or develop the detail design of the new airport and at the same time to assist the Ethiopian Airlines in the selection of the contractors who will built the new airport facilities. In addition, the agreement includes supervision of the construction work from the beginning to the end, ” Mesfin stated.
Director of DAR Company, Tariq Al Qanni on his part said that the new mega airport project will be the largest airports in Africa that will help Ethiopian realize its vision in aviation industry.
DAR will timely deliver the new ultra-modern airport project design and effectively supervise the construction works of the contractors, the director stated, noting that DAR has been working with Ethiopian Airlines since 2019.
“We have been working with the Ethiopian Airlines on the delivery of many projects within t
he premises Bole International Airport. And, we believe that this relationship had to conclude with this significant and remarkable project with the signature of the contract. We promise Ethiopian Airlines that we will be delivering an iconic project and functional airport that will place the Ethiopian Airlines amongst the top ten airlines and aviation hubs globally. We are confident that we are able to deliver and we look forward for this exciting journey, ” DAR director explained.
The current Ethiopian Airlines airport, Bole International Airport, has a maximum capacity of 25 million passengers per annum, it was learned.
Source : Ethiopian News Agency