The $6 billion first phase of the airport in Abusera south of Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, due for completion in 2029, will serve 60 million passengers. Further phases could serve up to 110 million passengers a year.

The plans for the airport are being developed as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts growth of more than 200% in East Africa over the next decade. Ethiopian Airlines has grown to be Africa鈥檚 biggest airline but its current base at Bole International Airport has no possibilities for significant expansion.

Several other companies are involved in the consortium that has been awarded a technical advisory, engineering, project management and construction supervision contract for the airport. They include Pascall+Watson Architects, aviation specialists Landrum & Brown, and engineers TY Lin.

Dar, TY Lin and Landrum & Brown are part of Sidara, a collaborative of companies that has advised on 23 global airports, including Bole International Airport and Dubai International Airport.

The new airport will be served by an express railway link running form the centre of Addis Ababa to the airport at Abusera.

ZHA鈥檚 director of aviation, Cristiano Ceccato, said, 鈥淭he new airport at Abusera will be a global gateway for Africa and place Ethiopia at the very heart of the continent鈥檚 transportation networks; connecting communities around the world with the most integrated air transport system.鈥�