US Pushes for Share of Ethiopian Airlines' $12.5 Billion Bishoftu Airport Project

The United States is actively seeking participation for American companies in Ethiopian Airlines' $12.5 billion Bishoftu airport project, as Washington competes with China and other powers for infrastructure influence across Africa. Mark Mitchell, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Middle East and Africa, confirmed the push during a virtual briefing from the Africa Logistics and Communications Symposium in Addis Ababa, where he also held meetings with Ethiopian Airlines officials. Construction on the four-runway facility, located approximately 45 km southeast of Addis Ababa, began in January 2026, with completion targeted for 2030 and ambitions to position it as a major continental aviation hub.