Chinese state-owned companies have emerged as the leading contenders for major construction contracts at Ethiopia’s $12.5 billion Bishoftu International Airport, while no major independent U.S. contractor has made the shortlist.

Ethiopian Airlines completed prequalification for four major construction packages in April, attracting bidders and joint ventures from China, Europe, the Middle East, Türkiye, India and Russia.

Chinese companies secured 15 of the 33 shortlisted positions, representing 10 groups. The contenders include China Communications Construction Company, China Road and Bridge Corporation, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Beijing Urban Construction Group.

The four construction packages cover the main terminal and airport facilities, airfield works, supporting infrastructure and offsite transport links.

The only U.S.-based contractor on the shortlist is Connecticut-based Lane Construction Corporation, which is owned by Italy’s Webuild. It appears in three packages through a joint venture with Webuild and Türkiye’s IC İçtaş.

Contractor selection delayed to 2027

Ethiopian Airlines has postponed the selection of contractors from August 2026 to early January 2027 after bidders requested additional time to prepare proposals and arrange financing.

Group Chief Executive Mesfin Tasew said the delay would not affect the project’s overall timeline.

The U.S. government is meanwhile seeking a broader role for American companies in the project. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Middle East and Africa Mark Mitchell said in July that the Commerce Department was closely engaged in efforts to increase U.S. participation.

Washington has highlighted opportunities for companies such as Boeing and GE Aerospace in aircraft, engines, aviation technology and equipment as Ethiopian Airlines expands.

Ethiopian Airlines agreed in April to purchase six additional Boeing 787-9 aircraft, adding to 20 already on order.

Project requires more than $9 billion in external financing

Ethiopian Airlines plans to finance about 30% of the airport project from its own balance sheet, leaving more than $9 billion to be raised externally.

Mesfin said lenders had expressed interest amounting to around $8.5 billion, although major financing agreements have not yet been finalized.

The African Development Bank is acting as mandated lead arranger and has indicated a potential $500 million commitment, subject to appraisal.

U.S. institutions, including the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and U.S. Export-Import Bank, as well as JPMorgan Chase, have also shown interest.

Chinese lenders are separately discussing financing with Ethiopian Airlines and the Ministry of Finance, including Bank of China, China Exim Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and China Development Bank.

Africa’s largest planned airport

Bishoftu International Airport is being developed south of Addis Ababa to ease pressure on Bole International Airport, which handles around 25 million passengers annually and is expected to reach capacity in the coming years.

The new airport is planned to open in 2030 with an initial capacity of 60 million passengers per year. Its full build-out is expected to increase capacity to 110 million passengers, alongside approximately 3.73 million metric tonnes of annual cargo capacity and parking for around 270 aircraft.

With an estimated cost of $12.5 billion, Bishoftu would become Africa’s largest and most expensive aviation infrastructure project, while its planned passenger capacity would place it among the world’s largest airports.