Etihad Airways and Air Peace have confirmed that an interline agreement has been signed between the two carriers in an effort to better connect the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nigeria. The agreement will open 20 destinations across Africa for Etihad’s customers and hopefully make travel more convenient for passengers of both airlines.
Increased connectivity between the UAE and Nigeria
The interline agreement signed by Etihad and Air Peace promises to open 20 more destinations across Nigeria, Central and West Africa for Etihad passengers. Etihad Airways is both the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) flagship carrier and its second largest airline. Air Peace is the largest airline in Nigeria and West Africa, offering both domestic and international flights.
A joint statement between the two carriers declared that passengers would be able to travel beyond major West African cities like Lagos and Accra to other airports within Air Peace’s network on a single ticket. This will include major Nigerian cities such as Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano as well as regional destinations across West and Central Africa such as Abidjan, Dakar, and Banjul.
Air Peace’s chief commercial officer, Nowel Ngala commented:
“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.”
Combined journeys utilising this interline partnership will be available to book through Etihad’s website once the agreement takes effect.
Etihad’s continued African expansion
The newly announced interline agreement between Etihad Airways and Air Peace follows the African expansion announced by Etihad in April. This included plans to launch a daily service between Lagos and Abu Dhabi; the new partnership aims to make onward connections more convenient for travellers by allowing them to use a single ticket to continue through Air Peace’s network of destinations.
Business between Nigeria and Abu Dhabi has accelerated in recent months, particularly after the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed in January 2026. Nigeria is a particularly large economy within Africa, and the rapidly growing Nigerian communities living and working in the United Arab Emirates signify the increasing connectivity between the two countries. The partnership between Etihad Airways and Air Peace reflects the significance of collaboration between Nigeria and the UAE, and opens the doorway for further partnership.
Arik De, Etihad’s chief commercial and revenue officer, made this statement about the interline agreement:
“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.”
Another international partnership for Air Peace
This agreement between Nigeria’s largest airline and Etihad marks another success in Air Peace’s continued efforts to expand its global reach through international partnerships and expand the airline’s connectivity for customers.
In April 2026, Air Peace signed a bilateral Special Prorate Agreement (SPA) with Turkish Airlines. This agreement allows passengers to use a single ticket to travel between regions across Central and West Africa to Istanbul and other Turkish airports, as well as granting Air Peace passengers better access to Turkish Airlines’ network of other global destinations. In return, similar to Etihad’s guests, passengers using Turkish Airlines have access to Air Peace’s connections across Nigeria and regional destinations in Central and West Africa.
This partnership, alongside the newly announced interline agreement, strengthens Air Peace’s position as a major aviation gateway in Africa as well as better connects Central and West Africa to other global hubs.
What do you think of the partnership between Air Peace and Etihad Airways? Let us know in the comments.
