Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and Air Peace, West Africa’s largest airline, have signed an interline agreement that connects the two carriers’ networks, opening 20 destinations across Nigeria, West and Central Africa to Etihad’s guests.

Under the agreement, Etihad guests will be able to travel on a single ticket beyond Lagos and Accra onto Air Peace’s extensive network.

That includes major Nigerian cities such as Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Benin City, Owerri, Warri and Asaba, as well as regional destinations across West and Central Africa, among them Abidjan, Dakar, Banjul, Freetown, Monrovia, Conakry, Bamako, Douala and Libreville.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and one of its largest economies; business between the two countries has accelerated since the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed in January 2026, and a fast-growing Nigerian community lives and works across the Emirates.

For Etihad, the partnership supports the African expansion announced in April, which includes a daily service between Abu Dhabi and Lagos. Once those flights begin, guests will be able to book journeys through Abu Dhabi and continue onward on Air Peace’s network across Nigeria and West Africa.

Arik De, Chief Commercial and Revenue Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “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.”

Nowel Ngala, Chief Commercial Officer, 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.”

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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