Ethiopia is to build the biggest international Airport yet reports The Reporter.  The ever growing air traffic in the country is given as a reason to build a new airport. According to officials Ethiopian Airport Enterprise was conducting a study on the establishment of a new international airport. When the major expansion project of the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport was drafted in the early 1990s, it was assumed that the airport will accommodate air traffic until 2017. However, the airport has reached its maximum capacity in 2010.

The new international airport we will be build between Modjo and Meki towns on Hawassa road and will be used to accommodate long haul international flights. Whereas, the current airport will be used for regional flights, VIP flights and for those who are involved in general aviation services (private airlines that provide none schedule flights).

Tough Ethiopia has recently started direct international cargo flight from Mekelle and Bahir Dar, the country has no other major international flight outside of Addis Ababa. That means all flight to and from the country are only available through the capital city. People from North, South, East and West part of the country have to pass through Addis Ababa for their international flight duties. Given the geographic setting and demographic distribution of Ethiopia, constructing another international airport at the capital city won’t serve the best economic interest of the country. Instead of proposing the construction of another big international airport in Addis Ababa, the country would have been better served if the new international airport was constructed in a different region of the country.