ع
Etihad Airways said in a statement released on its website that it signed an interline agreement with Air Peace to link their networks and expand travel options for passengers on both carriers. The arrangement will allow Etihad guests to book seamless single-ticket journeys from Abu Dhabi through Lagos and Accra onto Air Peace services once the pact takes effect. Combined itineraries are scheduled to become available for booking at etihad.com in the coming weeks, according to the announcement issued on July 23, 2026.
The statement listed eight major Nigerian cities served by Air Peace, including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Benin City, Owerri, Warri and Asaba, together with nine regional gateways such as Abidjan, Dakar, Banjul, Freetown, Monrovia, Conakry, Bamako, Douala and Libreville. Nigeria stands as Africa’s most populous country and one of its largest economies, with commercial ties to the UAE having grown rapidly since the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in January 2026. The announcement highlighted a fast-growing Nigerian community living and working in the Emirates as another beneficiary of improved air connectivity.
Etihad’s interline pact supports the African network expansion it unveiled in an April 2026 announcement that outlined six new routes from Abu Dhabi, including daily flights to Lagos beginning March 18, 2027. That earlier disclosure from the carrier also detailed services to Accra in Ghana starting in March 2027, four-weekly flights to Asmara in Eritrea from November 2026, and additional links to points in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Air Peace partnership will enable Etihad to extend its reach across Nigeria and West Africa by tapping into the local carrier’s established operations, the July 23 statement explained.
Arik De, chief commercial and revenue officer at Etihad Airways, said in the announcement, “Our ambitions in Africa are long term, and Nigeria sits at the centre of them. This agreement gives our guests access to one of the continent’s most extensive domestic and regional networks. Partnerships like this are how we grow: with strong airlines that know their markets better than anyone.” The executive’s comments underscored Nigeria’s central role in Etihad’s long-term continental strategy that has unfolded through both new direct routes and cooperation agreements.
Nowel Ngala, chief commercial officer at Air Peace, said, “Air Peace has always been about opening doors for Nigerian and West African travellers. Working with Etihad Airways extends that ambition, giving our customers convenient access to Abu Dhabi on Etihad’s services once the new routes begin, while bringing Etihad’s guests to the many destinations we serve across the region. We look forward to welcoming travellers from both networks.” Air Peace, which the statement described as Nigeria’s largest airline, maintains the country’s most extensive domestic and regional network according to operational overviews published by the carrier.
The agreement arrives as bilateral trade between the UAE and Nigeria continues to accelerate under the January 2026 economic partnership framework that has eased investment and commerce across multiple sectors. Air Peace operates a fleet capable of supporting increased interline traffic once Etihad’s daily Abu Dhabi-Lagos service launches in March 2027, industry assessments of West African aviation capacity indicate. The statement confirmed that officials from both airlines participated in a signing event to formalise the interline cooperation.
