Air Peace, Etihad Seal Interline Deal, Unlock 20 Nigerian, West African Destinations For Global Travellers

• Air Peace and Etihad Airways sign strategic interline agreement, creating seamless travel connections between Nigeria, the UAE and 20 destinations across West and Central Africa.

• Etihad passengers will be able to book single-ticket journeys from Abu Dhabi through Lagos and Accra to major Nigerian cities including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Benin City, Owerri, Warri and Asaba, as well as regional destinations such as Dakar, Abidjan, Monrovia and Libreville.

• Air Peace customers will gain convenient access to Abu Dhabi on Etihad’s planned Lagos and Accra services, strengthening business, tourism, trade and diaspora travel between Africa and the Middle East.

• The partnership supports Etihad’s African expansion strategy and builds on growing Nigeria-UAE economic ties following the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), positioning both airlines to enhance regional and international connectivity.

July 22, () — Air Peace and Etihad Airways have signed a landmark interline agreement aimed at significantly expanding air connectivity between Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and key destinations across West and Central Africa.

The partnership will enable travellers to book single-ticket journeys connecting Etihad’s global network with Air Peace’s extensive domestic and regional operations, creating seamless travel options for passengers moving between Africa, the Middle East and beyond.

The agreement opens access to 20 destinations across Nigeria, West and Central Africa for Etihad passengers while providing Air Peace customers with future connections to Abu Dhabi on Etihad’s planned Lagos and Accra services once the routes commence.

Expanding Regional Connectivity

Under the agreement, Etihad passengers arriving in Lagos and Accra will be able to continue their journeys on Air Peace flights without purchasing separate tickets.

The partnership covers major Nigerian destinations including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Benin City, Owerri, Warri and Asaba. It also extends to several regional cities across West and Central Africa, including Abidjan, Dakar, Banjul, Freetown, Monrovia, Conakry, Bamako, Douala and Libreville.

The development comes at a time when Nigeria continues to strengthen economic and commercial ties with the United Arab Emirates following the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed between both countries in January 2026.

Officials said the growing Nigerian community living and working in the UAE is expected to benefit significantly from the enhanced connectivity.

Boost for Etihad’s African Expansion

The agreement also aligns with Etihad Airways’ broader African expansion strategy announced in April, which includes the launch of a daily Abu Dhabi-Lagos service.

Once operational, passengers travelling from Abu Dhabi will enjoy seamless onward connections through Air Peace to multiple destinations across Nigeria and neighbouring African countries.

The Chief Commercial and Revenue Officer of Etihad Airways, Arik De, described Nigeria as a strategic market for the airline’s long-term growth ambitions on the African continent.

“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, and it brings Air Peace’s customers to Abu Dhabi to experience our home. Partnerships like this are how we grow—with strong airlines that know their markets better than anyone”, De said.

Air Peace’s Chief Commercial Officer, Nowel Ngala, said the collaboration reflects the Nigerian carrier’s commitment to improving connectivity across Africa and beyond.

“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”, Ngala said.

According to both airlines, combined itineraries under the interline agreement will become available for booking through their respective websites once the partnership officially takes effect.

Background

An interline agreement enables passengers to travel across multiple airlines under a single booking, with coordinated baggage handling and streamlined ticketing, eliminating the need to purchase separate tickets for connecting flights.

Founded in 2003, Etihad Airways is the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates and operates passenger and cargo services from its Abu Dhabi hub to destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Through its codeshare and partner airlines, the carrier provides access to hundreds of destinations worldwide.

Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, operates domestic, regional and international flights with an expanding fleet serving destinations across Africa, Europe, South America, the Caribbean and the Middle East. The airline has continued to pursue strategic partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a major aviation hub in Africa.