Ethiopian Airlines Selects Consortium Led by Dar for New Global Hub Airport

Ethiopian Airlines Group has announced the award of a consultancy contract to a consortium led by Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners) for the design of its new global hub airport in Abusera. The airport is a cornerstone of the airline’s 15-year strategic plan to become a global aviation leader.

The new airport, set to be Africa’s largest, will have an initial capacity of 60 million passengers annually, expanding to 110 million passengers in subsequent phases. Its strategic location, lower altitude, and planned express rail link to Addis Ababa will enhance operational efficiency and passenger experience.

Ethiopian’s CEO Mesfin Tasew stated: “With its exceptional capacity and world-class facilities, this new airport promises to elevate African aviation.”

To deliver this transformational new project, Ethiopian Airlines awarded a consultancy contract to a consortium led by Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), with Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), Pascall+Watson Architects, Landrum&Brown, and TY Lin.

Dar, TY Lin, and Landrum&Brown belong to Sidara, a global collaborative that ranks 1^st in aviation (Engineering News Record 2023). ZHA brings award-winning design capabilities and a global track-record of acclaimed airport projects, while Pascall+Watson Architects has successfully completed over 2,000 aviation projects across 70 airports.

The consortium, which includes Zaha Hadid Architects, Pascall+Watson Architects, Landrum&Brown, and TY Lin, brings together a wealth of expertise in aviation design, engineering, and project management. The team will be responsible for the design of 600,000 m² of passenger facilities, 126,000 m² of airline support facilities, two Code 4E parallel runways along with associated airfield infrastructure, and other major airport facilities and infrastructure.

The consortium’s appointment marks a significant milestone in Ethiopian Airlines’ ambitious expansion plans. The new airport is expected to open in 2029.