Africa's 'largest airport' project begins

Ethiopia on Saturday started building what the prime minister says will be Africa's biggest airport when completed in the town of Bishoftu, southeast of the capital Addis Ababa.

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The massive travel hub is expected to cost about US$12.7 billion (399.3 billion baht) and eventually be able to handle some 110 million passengers a year at full capacity. Construction is expected to take five years.

Partly financed by national carrier Ethiopian Airlines, the Bishoftu hub is expected to replace the capital's Bole Airport, which can handle up to 25 million passengers annually.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Saturday announced construction of "the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa's history" had begun.