Etihad Airways has strengthened its African network by signing three partnership agreements in July, including an interline agreement with Fastjet in Zimbabwe, and agreements with Air Peace in Nigeria and Africa World Airlines in Ghana.
The agreements will enable guests to connect across the continent from the day the new routes begin, in addition to the six African destinations Etihad announced in April. This expansion is a result of the airline’s efforts to grow its presence in the African market.
The interline agreement with Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, was signed in Lagos on 22 July, and will open 20 destinations across Nigeria, West and Central Africa to Etihad’s guests.
They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Africa World Airlines, the Accra-based carrier serving Ghana and the wider region, which sets out cooperation across codeshare, interline, cargo and loyalty.
This cooperation builds on Etihad’s strategic joint venture partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, and together they let Etihad carry its guests far beyond the destinations it serves with its own aircraft.
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In April, Etihad announced six new destinations across the continent, positioning Abu Dhabi as an efficient corridor between Africa, India and Asia for guests and for cargo, where demand is outpacing supply in trade-linked sectors.
The new partnerships mean that when those routes launch, guests will connect onward across West and Southern Africa from day one.
The timing of these partnerships mirrors the UAE’s own deepening ties with the continent, as seen in the economic partnership agreement signed with Nigeria in January 2026.
Arik De, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial and Revenue Officer, said: “Africa is one of the fastest-growing aviation regions in the world, and this month we have moved quickly to grow with it.
Three agreements in July, each shaped to its market: the reach of Fastjet in Southern Africa, the breadth of Air Peace’s network and the depth of a strategic framework with Africa World Airlines.
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When Etihad’s new African routes take off, the partner network behind them will already be in place, enhancing the airline’s competitiveness in the region.
Tickets combining the partner networks will become available as each agreement takes effect.
For more information, visit etihad.com.
Etihad Airways is well-positioned to take advantage of the growing demand for air travel in Africa.
The airline’s strategic expansion into Africa is a significant development, and is expected to have a positive impact on its business and operations.
