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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The “X-shaped” terminal in the headline is part of Bishoftu International Airport, a planned Ethiopian Airlines hub near Bishoftu, about 40 km south of Addis Ababa. Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) designed the airport with Dar Al-Handasah (DAR) as lead consultant. Construction officially began on 10 January 2026, but the airport is not yet open. Its published schedule is unsettled: the project’s 2030 target conflicts with a later 2032 Phase One completion expectation.
What airport is the X-shaped design?
It is Bishoftu International Airport (BIA), planned as a new hub for Ethiopian Airlines Group. The X-shaped wording comes from the headline framing; ZHA’s project description instead explains the terminal around a central spine connected to aircraft piers. That is the documented organizing concept, rather than a technical designation of the plan as an X.
The location is Bishoftu, approximately 40 km south of Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Airlines says construction officially began at a groundbreaking ceremony on 10 January 2026. The airport is under construction, not operating.
How the terminal is organized
A central spine and passenger piers
ZHA says the central spine draws inspiration from the Great Rift Valley and connects the terminal’s facilities and piers. The firm presents the arrangement as a way to reduce transfer distances and help connecting passengers find their way. Each pier is planned with its own interior materials and colours representing Ethiopia’s regions.
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Gardens, courtyards and transfer amenities
The project plans include gardens, courtyards, shaded spaces, dining, entertainment and an airside hotel. ZHA says up to 80% of passengers may transfer without leaving the airport. This is a design expectation for a future airport, not an observed operating result.
What is planned for Phase One and later phases?
ZHA’s published figures distinguish the initial phase from the airport’s eventual scale:
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| Project stage | Terminal area | Annual passenger capacity | Runways |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase One, as described by ZHA in 2026 | 660,000 m² | 60 million | Two parallel runways |
| Later phases, full build-out as described by ZHA in 2026 | not stated by ZHA | Up to 110 million | Four runways |
The 660,000 m² figure is for Phase One. It should not be conflated with Ethiopian Airlines’ August 2024 announcement, which described a 1.1 million m² terminal in the broader Mega Airport City plan. The announcements refer to different project scopes and dates.
Who is designing and delivering the project?
- Client and planned operator: Ethiopian Airlines Group.
- Design architect: Zaha Hadid Architects.
- Lead consultant: Dar Al-Handasah.
- Passenger-facing interiors: Pascall+Watson, covering the terminal, satellite concourse and rail station.
When is Bishoftu International Airport expected to open?
The published schedule contains two different milestones that the sources do not reconcile. ZHA’s project announcement targets an initial opening in 2030, and Ethiopian Airlines’ January 2026 announcement says Phase One is expected to be completed by 2030. A July 2026 Domus feature by ZHA aviation director Cristiano Ceccato de Sabata gives 2032 as the expected completion date for Phase One. The available announcements do not establish whether these dates refer to different milestones or reflect a changed schedule, so neither date should be treated as a confirmed opening.
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What sustainability measures are planned?
ZHA says the terminal is designed to achieve LEED Gold; Pascall+Watson also describes LEED Gold as a target. Planned measures cited by the project team include natural ventilation, solar shading, photovoltaic arrays, stormwater storage and reuse, and native planting. These are stated design intentions and targets, not certifications or performance results already achieved.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do the published project figures establish?
Pascall+Watson describes the development as a USD 12.5 billion project. That is the consultant’s stated figure; the cited project information does not establish it as an independently audited cost. Likewise, the passenger capacities and schedule are project-side figures, not independently verified demand forecasts or operating results.
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