• Ethiopian Airlines expands Bole Airport domestic terminal to improve passenger flow
• Three new airports to raise domestic network to 26 destinations
• Expansion supports Vision 2040 plan targeting major traffic and revenue growth

Ethiopian Airlines on Sunday inaugurated expanded facilities at the domestic terminal of Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport, marking a new step in strengthening the carrier's domestic and regional network.

The upgrade is designed to streamline passenger processing and improve the overall travel experience. It will allow the airline to better accommodate growth in Ethiopia's domestic air travel market, driven by economic development, increased commercial activity and rising tourism.

Ethiopia has also recorded strong growth in tourism in recent years. The country saw a 15% increase in international arrivals in 2025, according to official figures.

Three new domestic airports

As part of its strategy to expand domestic network capacity, Ethiopian Airlines announced the inauguration of three new domestic airports in March. The facilities, located in Negele Borena, Gore Metu and Debre Markos, are expected to receive passenger flights by mid-April 2026. The additions will bring the carrier's domestic network to 26 destinations.

The investment forms part of the airline's "Vision 2040" strategic development plan, which aims to place the national carrier among the world's top 20 airlines. The plan targets annual revenue of $29 billion by 2040, up from $7.6 billion in the 2024/25 fiscal year.

It also aims to increase passenger traffic to 63.9 million from 19 million in the last fiscal year, while cargo volumes are projected to reach 1.9 million metric tons from 754,000 metric tons.

To support this growth, the fleet is expected to expand from 145 to 303 aircraft, while the international network is projected to grow from 144 to 243 destinations. In January, Ethiopia also announced the construction of a new airport in Bishoftu, planned to become the largest on the continent with a passenger handling capacity of 100 million per year.

Henoc Dossa