1st phase taxiway expansion of Bole International Airport completed



The first phase expansion work of the taxiway of the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport undertaken at a cost of 1.1 billion Birr was finalized, the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise said.

Public Relation and Communication Service Head with the Enterprise, Wondim Teklu told ENA on Monday that the expansion work was aimed to enhance the capacity of the airport so that it can meet the increasing air traffic flow.

The Airport is giving services to 34 aircrafts at a time following completion of the first phase expansion work.
Currently, the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in East Africa at present, is giving service to up to 110 aircrafts a day.

The number of passengers using the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is also growing by over 20 per cent every year.

The expansion work is underway in two phases on 80 hectares land.

The first phase of the expansion work had enabled the Airport to accommodate 15 additional aircrafts. It also helped to reduce traffic congestion at the Airport, Wondim said.

The second phase of the expansion work will enable to give service to ten additional aircrafts, he said, adding, so far 27 per cent of the second phase expansion work has been completed.

The budget for implementation of the expansion work is covered by the Enterprise.

The Addis Ababa Bole International Airport will have capacity to give service to 44 aircrafts at a time upon full completion of the expansion work.

The Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, located on the southern outskirts of Addis Ababa, is the main hub of the Ethiopian Airlines, the national airline. It is a hub for many local chartered flights.

The Enterprise is a government institution established to construct, maintain and administer airports in Ethiopia.

The Enterprise had signed last year a contract agreement with the Chinese Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) Addis Engineering Plc for the expansion work. (ENA)