Addis Ababa Bole airport (ADD)

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, opened in 1960, is the largest in Ethiopia, not only serving the capital, but also most of the country. In addition to domestic flights, it operates with international destinations in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and America. It is one of the busiest and most modern airports in the African continent.

Official Website: addisairport.com
Number of Terminals - 2 - Terminal 1 (domestic and regional flights) and Terminal 2 (international flights). Open 24 hours a day and situated next to each other.
Annual passenger traffic: 7.7 million passengers went through it in 2022.
Tel: +251 116 650 400 / 499. E-mail: [email protected]. There is an information desk in the Arrivals area.

 Location

The airport is located in the Bole area, 6 km (3.7 miles) southeast from downtown Addis Ababa and 65 km (40 miles) to the north of Debre Zeyit.

Public and private transportation

Bus - There is a blue minibus service to the city departing from Bole Dild Station, situated opposite the airport.

Taxi - A desk in the Arrivals Hall provides fixed fares for destinations inside the city. There are two kinds of vehicles: blue and white vans, and cars operated by NTO (Tel Tel +251 115 159 274), more expensive. The first ones have fixed routes, working like small buses, and can be found in front of the International Arrivals area. The two main destinations are Piazza and Meskel (15-30 minutes trip).

Car rental agencies

 Avis: +251 11 510 355 - Opening hours: 24 hours. 

.Car rental options can be found at the tour operators and travel agencies booths at the Arrivals Hall of Addis Ababa Airport.

RENTING A CAR IN ETHIOPIA - TIPS AND ADVICES

- To be able to drive in Ethiopia you€™ll need a temporary Ethiopian€™s permit at the Transport and Communications office located on Asmara Road in Addis Ababa. To obtain it you must have a valid residence permit.

- With your local driving permit, you€™ll only be allowed to drive in the country for a week. 

- It is recommended to hire also a driver while hiring a car, since many car rental companies will overcharge you for self-driving. Also, it will be safer as traffic in Addis Ababa is really chaotic: Drivers don€™t respect the rules: they can overtake you on both sides or simply don€™t respect the road lanes.

- You should contract a medical and emergencies insurance in your own country since in some parts of Ethiopia there aren€™t insurance companies neither emergency services.

Parking services at Addis Ababa Bole airport (ADD)

Outside the terminals there is a large parking area for short- and long-term stays.

Facilities for passengers with special needs

Passengers that require special assistance are advised to notify their airline about their particular needs before travelling. The airport can provide wheelchairs on demand.