The new airport will help establish Ethiopia as a global aviation hub. (Image source: Ethiopian Airlines)

One of Africa’s leading airlines, Ethiopian Airlines Group, has signed a technical advisory and consultancy contract with Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), a partner with architects Zaha Hadid Architects, for the design and supervision of a mega airport city

The state-of-the art airport city will be located at Abusera in Bishoftu city, just 40 km from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. When completed, it will have the capacity to serve 110 million passengers each year (four times the current capacity of Bole International Airport). It will be delivered in phases, with the first (allowing the site to handle 60 million passengers) expected to be completed in 2029.

“The project will not only enhance connectivity but also drive economic growth and prioritise environmentally responsible practices in our country and beyond, reflecting the airline's commitment to innovation and sustainability,” remarked Ethiopian Airlines' group CEO, Mesfin Tasew. “With its exceptional capacity and world-class facilities, this new airport promises to elevate African aviation and strengthen partnerships, marking a significant advancement for the region's air travel infrastructure.”

Features of the mega airport city include a 1.1 million sq m terminal with passenger facilities, 126,190 sq m airline support facilities and more than 100,000 sq m of cargo and airport support facilities.

Dar director of operations in Ethiopia, Tariq Al-Qanni, commented, “We are privileged to be collaborating with Ethiopian Airlines on this visionary new airport, which will provide vital global air connectivity, accelerate economic growth in Ethiopia, and elevate Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s most strategic and most competitive aviation group.”

Hyde Johannesburg marks a major milestone for Ennismore as the brand’s first hotel in Africa. (Image source: Ennismore)

Ennismore, a lifestyle and leisure hospitality company, and Kasada, a leading independent real estate private equity platform, have announced the signing of Hyde Johannesburg

Located in the heart of Rosebank, Hyde Johannesburg represents Ennismore’s first hotel in Johannesburg, the first Hydr hotel in Africa and Kasada’s first investment in the city. It will boast 131 rooms (including 31 suites), a gym and will undergo a renovation to create a bohemian feel that reflects the Hyde brand.

“Hyde Hotels have a sense of mystery and freedom, with that feeling that anything can happen, and we are incredibly excited to bring this unique lifestyle hospitality experience to Johannesburg,” remarked Louis Abi Abboud, chief development officer and deputy head of IMEAT at Ennismore. “We are proud to be once again partnering with Kasada to bring an Ennismore brand to Africa for the first time and to open in a new global destination, further expanding the reach of our network.”

Currently, Hyde Hotels operates in Miami, Dubai, Ibiza and Bodrum and has a growing pipeline with upcoming openings in London, Perth and Queenstown. This investment further strengthens Kasada’s position in South Africa, where it has already made three investments in Cape Town. Kasada’s portfolio now consists of 20 hotels in operation or under construction across seven African countries.

Olivier Granet and David Damiba, managing partners and co-CEOs of Kasada, commented, “We’re thrilled about bringing Kasada’s expertise as the leading hospitality investor and owner on the continent to one of the best lifestyle hotels in Africa. As a committed and responsible investor in South Africa, we see this investment as a key opportunity to further our dedication to supporting economic and socio-economic growth through the tourism and hospitality sectors.

“We look forward to working closely with Ennismore to make Hyde Johannesburg the best lifestyle hotel destination not only for Johannesburg but also for the African continent.”

The project will extend and modernise the Moroni and Boingoma ports. (Image source: AfDB)

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US$135mn package to the Union of the Comoros in East Africa

The significant funding (provided by the African Development Fund and the Transition Support Facility) will support the Maritime Corridor and Regional Trade Facilitation Project (PCMFCR) and help to extend and modernise two ports on the island as well as establish a special economic zone.

With around 90% of freight to and between the three islands transported by sea, the upgrades to the ports (two of three located in the Union of the Comoros) is thought to be essential to its continued economic development. The project will improve the Union of the Comoros' national and international connectivity by upgrading port infrastructure, promoting regional integration and creating an ecosystem conducive to the development of value chains.

“The project, which has just been approved by the Boards of Directors of the Bank Group, aims to increase the capacity and efficiency of the ports of Moroni and Boingoma to meet current and future needs,” said the Bank's director general for eastern Africa, Nnenna Nwabufo. “It will help develop local value chains in fisheries and agriculture sectors, and facilitate inter-island and regional trade. This is a flagship project of the Plan Comores Émergent, which will certainly help to improve the living conditions of the Comorian population and reduce Comoros' vulnerability to climate change.”

To accommodate ferries and fishing boats, the port of Moroni will be expanded by a new 240 metre quay and the port of Boingoma by a 136-metre quay. The project will also support the modernisation of the customs administration, the establishment of a national single window for trade and business facilitation, and the development of a special economic zone to support import and export logistics.

Furthermore, 10 fisheries product stores equipped with solar-powered cold rooms and refrigerated island transport solutions will be constructed. These will be adapted to women’s need and will support female cooperatives by providing them with deep-freezing equipment for the production and processing of fisheries and agricultural products.

The project will be co-financed by several institutions including the European Investment Bank, the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the Agence Française de Développement.

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The new website is optimised for use on desktop computer, tablet or smartphone. (Image source: Haulotte Group)

Haulotte Group, a specialist in lifting equipment, has overhauled its corporate website and launched new sites for each of its 21 subsidiaries in a bid to provider a superior online experience for users

Enhanced functionality and responsiveness has been weaved into the modern design of the corporate website to ensure it is as user-friendly as possible, the company has stated. The new site enables fluid navigation and easy access to essential information, whether accessed on a desktop computer, a tablet or smartphone. It is also now available in both English and French.

And these features also extend to the 21 subsidiary websites to make sure they are well suited to serve local markets. According to Haulotte, each website is tailored to provide region-specific information and support including subsidiary information, contact and language; product and service information; and distributor networks.

In addition, the new ‘Find the Right Machine’ comparator component has been introduced, providing customers with the ability to identify the perfect machine for their specific needs through a questionnaire. After the client inputs the desired information, the comparator generates a top three list of machines that are best matched to the specified requirements and alongside a side-by-side detailed comparison of the three.