Tunis, Tunisia – Tunisia plans to spend approximately $1 billion to expand Tunis-Carthage International Airport. The project will increase the airport’s annual passenger handling capacity from 5 million to 18.5 million by 2031.
Okay News reports that the Ministry of Transport disclosed the plan in a statement on Sunday. The 3 billion dinar investment aims to modernize the country’s aviation infrastructure and accommodate rising passenger traffic.
The expansion has been included in the 2026 investment budget of the Office of Civil Aviation and Airports. This government agency manages Tunisia’s airports and aviation infrastructure.
The Tunisian government initially explored constructing a new airport to meet future demand. However, officials shelved that proposal and opted to expand the existing facility instead.
The expansion comes amid rising air travel demand across Africa. African airlines recorded the highest growth in international air travel demand in January 2026. Revenue passenger kilometers rose 11.7% year-on-year according to the International Air Transport Association, the fastest growth among all global regions.
The upgrade is expected to strengthen Tunisia’s air transport network. It will also support the country’s tourism and economic sectors by improving capacity to handle rising passenger volumes.
Across Africa, several countries are investing heavily in aviation infrastructure. Ethiopia is currently undertaking one of the continent’s largest airport development projects.
In January 2026, Ethiopian Airlines commenced construction of Bishoftu International Airport. The facility is designed to handle up to 110 million passengers annually. The project will ease capacity pressure at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, which is nearing its expanded capacity of 25 million passengers.
The first phase of Bishoftu will serve about 60 million passengers annually. Full development targets 110 million passengers. Total project cost has risen to approximately 12.5 billion, up from the initial10 billion estimate announced in August 2025.
Located about 40 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, Bishoftu International Airport is expected to become one of Africa’s largest aviation hubs upon completion.
Nigeria is also expanding its busiest international gateway. In 2025, the Federal Government approved N712.26 billion ($473 million USD) for upgrades to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The project involves complete rebuilding of Terminal One, originally constructed in 1979. The plan also includes expansion of Terminal Two and enlargement of the aircraft apron to accommodate more wide-body aircraft.
Construction of two dedicated ring roads for arrivals and departures is planned. A new bridge will link passengers directly to the upper floor of the departure lounge, easing traffic congestion.
The upgrades will integrate smart technology aimed at transforming the Lagos airport into a modern facility capable of meeting global aviation standards.
