Etihad Airways West Africa expansion

In late July 2026 Etihad Airways announced a series of interline agreements to deepen its presence in West Africa. On 23 July the airline signed a pact with Nigeria’s Air Peace, linking Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub with up to 20 destinations across Nigeria, West and Central Africa—including Abuja, Lagos, Accra, Dakar and Douala—on a single ticket. The deal follows the UAE‑Nigeria Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and is presented as part of Etihad’s long‑term African strategy, with Nigeria positioned at its centre.

Two days later, on 25 July, Etihad expanded the initiative by signing a second interline agreement with Ghana’s Africa World Airlines. This partnership mirrors the Air Peace deal, enabling single‑ticket travel between Abu Dhabi and Ghana, and supporting a planned Abu Dhabi‑Accra service slated for March 2027. Both agreements cover codeshare, cargo cooperation and frequent‑flyer integration, aiming to boost travel, trade and tourism between the United Arab Emirates and the West African market.