Ethiopia: Africa's most modern airport

COUNTRYFILE

Despite delays in construction, international flights to Addis Ababa will soon switch to the spanking new Bole terminal, Africa's most modern airport. Reto Kuster reports.

When the new terminal is finally commissioned, Addis Ababa's Bole airport will be virtually unrecognisable from the cramped, out-dated structure of old.

The brand new terminal, with its massive glass structures and passenger-friendly service facilities will be, according to Ethiopian airports authorities, the most modern in Africa - not only in terms of construction period but in function. The new, extended taxiways will be able to accommodate all current international aircraft, including the Boeing 747-400. The idea is make Bole, Africa's new `Super hub'.

Planning of the renovation began seven years ago. The new terminal area has been expanded five-fold to 40,000sq metres. Convenient passengers facilities, including telecommunications and banking services, are located on three levels. Five direct access boarding gates will also ensure quick and comfortable boarding.

For passengers disembarking at Addis Ababa, vastly expanded immigration and customs counters should ensure a smooth and rapid exit. The old Bole airport was infamous for its long queues of tired and frustrated passengers in a stifling atmosphere.

However, it is to be hoped that customs and immigration officials will also be 'modernised' so that the excruciating slow pace of passenger processing will well and truly be a thing of the past.

The growing importance of Addis Ababa for both the business and tourist traveller has placed a huge demand on the airport. With the improvements, the airport authorities are confident they will be able to handle passenger capacity of up to 1,870 per peak hour to begin with, but they are aiming to expanded capacity to an estimated 2,900 passengers per hour.

Hoping to attract new carriers and keeping in mind Ethiopian Airlines' expansion plans, the new Bole airport will be able to handle 11 aircraft simultaneously. Passenger growth at Bole airport has been expanding rapidly. Currently, it handles 1m passengers annually with growth estimated at around 10% per annum. In comparison, Nairobi receives almost 3m passengers, while Johannesburg has a throughput of 10m.

More of technical interest for airlines serving Addis Ababa, including Five new taxiways will handle the increased traffic. New, state-of-the-art landing, navigation and communication equipment are in place to ensure maximum safety - a factor many airlines complain about at African airports. This, authorities hope, will attract more foreign airlines to touch down in Addis Ababa.

The existing terminal at Bole Airport will only be used for domestic flights once the new international terminal is operational. The opening date is set for this month (September). However, going by the fact that previous opening dates, May 2001, then in December 2001, were postponed due to construction delays indicates that the actual opening date may be later in the year.

Other Ethiopian airports, such as Dire Dawa, Bahar Dar, Arba Minch, Axum, Gondar have also been targeted for modernising. Some of these have already been upgraded in a major attempt to facilitate services for tourists. For the near future, privatisation of airports and ground handling is planned. And, sources say, more is yet to come.

The national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, in its 56th year of existence will begin soon begin a fleet renewal programme. The airline has announced plans to purchase 12 planes from Boeing: six B737-700 medium-range and six B767-300 long-range aircraft, at a total cost estimated around $450m.

The new planes will replace the ageing B737-200 and 767-- 200 series. If passenger growth continues, Ethiopian Airlines might even consider adding new B777s to its fleet. "The growth in fleet and expanded network, coupled with the opening of the new terminal, apron, runway and other facilities at Bole Airport, very shortly will propel Addis Ababa as an important gateway and key transport hub in Africa", say Ethiopian Airlines' CEO Bisrat Nigatu.

Africa's Super Hub' may well pay off. Several international organisations are based in Addis Ababa.

Reto Kuster reports.

Copyright International Communications Sep 2002
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