Nekemte Airport – NEK Nekemte, Ethiopia (NEK)

Nekemte Airport is a new airport that is envisioned to serve the town of Nekemte or Nakamti and the surrounding Oromia Region of western Ethiopia. Using NEK as its geocode, the old airport is set to be replaced by an upgraded version that would be undertaken by the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise and when completed, it is expected to be a greenfield airport. Currently, it is not open for commercial passenger flights because of some controversy wherein the country’s prime minister already laid the cornerstone for the airport’s future site even without a feasibility study and budget. Full construction work will commence once the budget and feasibility study are approved.

Best Time to Visit

Once the NEK-Nekemte Airport is built and becomes operational, it is said to be able to handle 4 aircrafts all at once. It is also envisioned to be an international airport. The terminal building will also be a modern structure equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and amenities that are at par with international aviation standards. It is likewise expected to be an enormous boost for Nekemte, the sprawling commercial and administrative center of the region as well as other nearby towns.

What to Do & Area Attractions

Hotels in Nekemte are within a few kilometers away from the site of the new airport. You can book your overnight stay at the Ijoo International Hotel, located at the center of the town. Most hotels are in the nearby Addis Ababa, like the Adot Tina Hotel, the 4-star Aphrodite International Hotel and the charming Bole Skygate Hotel.