Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) is Ethiopia's primary international gateway and the largest airport in East Africa.
Located in the Bole district of the city, just 6 km southeast of the downtown area of the capital, Addis Ababa. ADD is the main hub for Ethiopian Airlines.
In 2024, it handled just under 12 million passengers, ranking as the third busiest airport in Africa.
Major Airlines - Ethiopian Airlines
Addis Ababa Bole is the main hub for Ethiopian Airlines, the nation’s flag carrier. It operates flights to over 120 destinations worldwide and is by far the largest airline at the airport, both by passengers served and flights operated. It normally exceeds 5000 flights per month and flies direct to destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America.
Additionally, several international airlines connect ADD to some of the world’s most important aviation hubs. These include:
Qatar Airways flies to Doha.
Turkish Airlines flies to Istanbul.
Emirates flies to Dubai.
Etihad flies to Abu Dhabi.
EgyptAir flies to Cairo.
Saudia flies to Jeddah and Riyadh.
Kenya Airways flies to Nairobi.
You can see a full list of airlines at ADD here.
Terminal Layout and Gates of ADD
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport has two terminals:
Terminal 1: Dedicated to domestic and regional flights operated by Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Qatar Airways, Sudan Airways, and Yemenia. It was recently renovated and enlarged to a total of 4 contact gates and 10 remote gates.
Terminal 2: Handles international flights from all other airlines not listed above. It has 7 gates.
T1 and T2 are connected on the landside by free airport shuttle buses that depart every 15-30 minutes.
Connecting Flights and Transit at ADD
The only airline you can have connecting flights with at ADD is Ethiopian Airlines. It provides a seamless connection process with a minimum connecting time of just 30 minutes between domestic or two international flights, and only an hour if the connection involves clearing Immigration and Customs (domestic to international or vice versa).
Ethiopian Airlines also provides a transit service to anyone with a layover between 8 and 24 hours. You will be eligible for a stay in a hotel, regardless of alternative flight availability. Collect your voucher at your origin airport.
Those with shorter layovers may remain within the International Transit Zone. If neither flight is domestic and you remain within the zone, you won’t need to clear Ethiopian Immigration, and you won’t need a visa.
You can turn longer layovers from a curse to a blessing by exploring the city or even going on a day trip to one of the famous Ethiopian attractions. Check out the best things to do in Addis Ababa.
Wi-Fi at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
There is free Wi-Fi at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. The Wi-Fi’s SSID is “ADD Free WiFi”
To connect, select the network and a welcome portal will open automatically. Follow the instructions on the page to get connected.
Dining Options at ADD
Unfortunately, food and dining are not the airport’s strongest points. There are just too few options, and the ones available charge way too high prices.
One of the best-known establishments is the Cravings Restaurant & Bar. It offers both local and international cuisine, as well as vegan and vegetarian options. It’s located in Terminal 2.
Close by is the LONDON Cafe Satellite Restaurant and Catering, where you can get fast food items like sandwiches, burgers, fries, or a cup of coffee.
Burger King and Pizza Hut also have a presence within Terminal 2, ready to satisfy your cravings for familiar food.
Additionally, duty-free shops in both terminals sell snacks and beverages.
Lounges at Addis Ababa Airport
Ethiopian Airlines operates 3 lounges at the airport:
Sheba Cloud Nine Lounge: Located opposite Gate A13. It offers a range of refreshments, full-course meals with drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), premium Wi-Fi, prayer and quiet rooms, showers, and a smoking corner. Accommodates business class passengers.
Sheba Platinum & Star Gold lounge: Right beside the Sheba Cloud Nine Lounge, also opposite Gate A13, and offers much the same amenities but accommodates Platinum and Star Alliance Gold members.
Ethiopian Shebamiles Lounge: Located on the inner corridor of the Departure Hall in T2. Ethiopian accommodates its own ShebaMiles Silver Members here.
These lounges are an amazing way to experience the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, which they offer on demand.
Additionally, there is one open-access lounge at ADD:
Plaza Premium Lounge: It is located in Terminal 2 (after Security) and accessible to Priority Pass members and other eligible passengers. Since most travelers stay at one of the Ethiopian Airlines’ lounges, the Plaza Premium often has fewer people, more available space, and is quieter.
Transport to and from ADD Airport
The only public transport option linking the airport with the city center of Addis Ababa is the Blue Line SkyBus. It departs from Level 1 of Terminal 2 every 15-30 minutes and terminates at Bole Road after about 20 minutes. The single fare is approximately 0.20 USD. This bus only runs between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM.
The other main alternative is to take a taxi. A ride from the airport to the city center costs around 300 Ethiopian Birr (~2.5 USD), but ask for an estimate given your destination before accepting the ride because taxis are NOT metered.
There are chiefly two types of taxis at ADD:
NTO Mercedes-Benz taxis: Smaller, official, public, and more expensive.
Blue-and-white taxis: Bigger vehicles, private, run on a fixed route similar to public buses, but special rides can be negotiated.
Last is the option to take a shuttle provided by one of the various hotels and private companies that offer services to and from the airport.
Parking at ADD
You may choose to park either within the airport grounds or at one of the private parking facilities off-site.
The On-site parking comes with 24/7 security. There are options to park near the terminal for a short stay or a little farther for longer stays, and lower prices with a shuttle service to the terminal included.
Several Off-site parking facilities cater to overflow demand or those who want to park for even longer stays.
Hotels near Addis Ababa Bole Airport
Whether you’re looking for a quick rest, a few nights' stay, or a relaxing holiday, ADD has close accommodation options for each.
The Ethiopian Skylight Hotel is a 5-star hotel with luxury rooms located within the airport complex. If you get a cancelled or massively delayed flight, chances are you will end up here. And it’s as good a 5-star experience as any in Addis Ababa.
Outside the airport, you can opt to stay at Zola International Hotel or Best Western Plus Pearl Addis - two modern hotels that cater to both business and leisure travelers. Both offer convenient access to the terminals.
It’s worth noting that the airport is not far from the city, and you can find hundreds of other hotels within a 10-minute taxi ride. Check out more hotels near ADD here.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
