Login
Facebook
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
Ethiopia is one of the ancient destinations recognised for breathtaking landscapes. It has a number of airports for domestic and international travel. Airports in Ethiopia will elevate smooth connectivity from any part of the country to the world beyond. It could be either the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, or any other charming area. These significant airports make your travel plans easier and more comfortable.
10 Major Airports In Ethiopia
Here are the major airports in Ethiopia, helping you plan your journey efficiently and effectively amidst or beyond this destination:
1. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
Photo: CAPTAIN RAJU / Wikimedia Commons
Bole International Airport (ADD) serves as Ethiopia’s busiest aviation hub and a gateway to Africa. Located 6 km southeast of Addis Ababa’s city centre, this airport has rapidly expanded in Terminal 2. It now handles millions of passengers every year. Its design features the modernity expected of an international airport, combined with decorations. It holds an important strategic position. This gives its legitimacy credence in the African aviation space, having linked up a plethora of global destinations.
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2. Dire Dawa International Airport
Dire Dawa International Airport is another major gateway among all airports in Ethiopia, being both domestic and international. This airport in Ethiopia is about 3 km northwest of the city of Dire Dawa. It is important for trade and tourism as a corridor to Djibouti and beyond. There is an asphalt runway (15/33) that is 2,679 m long and accommodates mid-size aircraft. Ethiopian Airlines is the major operator, with flights to Addis Ababa and regional hubs. With its important economic potential as a commercial centre, it also supports cargo transport. The expansion of the airport complies with the general aviation development strategy for Ethiopia.
Location: JV75+452, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
3. Bahir Dar Airport
Bahir Dar Airport, officially called Dejazmach Belay Zeleke Airport, is one of the well-known airports in Ethiopia. It serves Bahir Dar, the capital city of the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Situated about 8 km west of Bahir Dar city, by Lake Tana, it is located at an altitude of 5,976 feet (1,821 m) above sea level. The airport has one asphalt-concrete runway, measuring 3,000 m long and 61 m wide. Ethiopian Airlines links Bahir Dar with Addis Ababa and Lalibela for domestic flights and tourism. The airport is also operationally supported by the Ethiopian Air Force.
Location: J83F+732, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
4. Gondar Airport
Photo: Joehawkins / Wikimedia Commons
The Atse Tewodros Airport, or Gondar Airport, is a major transport hub within the Amhara region. It serves the historic city of Gondar. The airport is located approximately 18 km south of the centre of Gondar at an elevation of 1,980 meters, making it one of the higher-altitude airports in Ethiopia. It has a single 3,700-meter asphalt runway with a direction of 17/35, allowing it to serve both domestic flights and regional operations. Ethiopian Airlines primarily operates flights from GDQ to Addis Ababa. The airport recently pursued upgrades to improve passenger facilities and expand operational capacity.
Location: GC8J+H98, Unnamed Road, Azezo, Ethiopia
5. Axum Airport
Photo: Raimund Stehmann / Wikimedia Commons
Axum Airport, with the airport code AXU, is also known as Emperor Yohannes IV Airport. It brings people to the ancient city of Axum in Ethiopia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The airport, located in the Tigray region, serves mainly internal connections between Axum and Addis Ababa. The small airport serves an important purpose for tourism in the region. The airport also incurred great damages during the Tigray conflict, though it has undergone efforts of restoration to make it operational again. Its facilities may be simple, but Axum Airport serves the economy of the city fairly well, facilitating tourism and trade.
Location: 4QVG+RQ4, Aksum, Ethiopia
6. Mekelle Alula Aba Nega Airport
Photo: Simon Temple / Wikimedia Commons
Mekelle Alula Aba Nega Airport is the main airport for Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region. The airport is important for connecting the region with Air Transport, mainly between Mekelle and Addis Ababa. It was purposely built around 10 km southeast of the town centre. The airport has one asphalt runway (12/30), covering a distance of 3,600 meters. Mekelle Airport is one of the first choices for humanitarian aid deliveries and the recovery of the regional economy.
Location: FGFJ+75H, Mekele, Ethiopia
7. Arba Minch Airport
Photo: Ralf Roletschek / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Arba Minch Airport serves as the main gateway to the southern nation, nationalities, and people’s regions of Ethiopia. Arba Minch Airport is located about 5 km northeast of Arba Minch. The airport’s elevation is 1,182 meters. It has scheduled domestic flights provided by Ethiopian Airlines, which link mainly Addis Ababa to Arba Minch. This airport acts as one of the gateways into Nech Sar National Park and the twin lakes of Chamo and Abaya. The airport is relatively important in facilitating ecotourism and trade activities in connection with the local economy.
Location: 2HRQ+88V, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
8. Lalibela Airport
Photo: Sm105 / Wikimedia Commonsikimedia
Lalibela Airport is Ethiopia’s very own gateway to the small town of Lalibela, famous for its rock-hewn churches. Approximately 25 km southwest of the town, it lies at an elevation of 6595 ft, with mountainous terrain on either side. With a single asphalt runway 10/28, 2400 m long, domestic flights by Ethiopian Airlines primarily access the airport. Despite its small size, this airport is among the important positions that continue to build tourism. While passenger terminal facilities are fairly limited, they are adequately functional. The airport serves as something of a conduit for a constant stream of visitors exploring the mediaeval churches of Lalibela.
Location: XXHM+6MG, Girany Amba, Ethiopia
9. Jijiga Airport
Photo: Yoni Lerner / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Jijiga Airport is referred to as Garaad Wiil-Waal Airport. Located about 12 kilometres east of the city centre of Jijiga, the capital of the Somali Region in Ethiopia, the airport is named after the 17th-century ruler Garad Wiil-Waal. It is equipped with one asphalt runway with a dimension of 2,500 meters in length. The airport’s geographic location offered a great connection to eastern Ethiopia, giving the region’s economy and access a development push.
Location: 8WJ5+M8Q, Ethiopia
10. Semera Airport
Photo: CAPTAIN RAJU / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Semera Airport is an important entry point to the Afar region of Ethiopia, close to the developing city of Semera. Mainly operating internal flights, the airport supports tourism and logistics in the country by providing access to the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest spots on Earth. It is controlled by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, with one asphalt runway that accommodates small to medium aircraft. Semera Airport plays a relative role in regional economics as it stands allied to other geothermal sites and mining projects. Despite its limited infrastructure, the airport is still an important centre for governmental, humanitarian, and research expeditions.
Location: Semera, Ethiopia
The airports in Ethiopia serve as a key factor in connecting the country to other varieties of regions. They also bolstered domestic and international travel. These open the doors for tourism to the country’s cultural and historical wonders while linking Ethiopia with international markets. Travelling within Ethiopian territory always promises ease through its air flights. Plan with TripXL and get to know the best plan for your travel possibilities.
Cover Photo: ShanaliCT / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
