National, India – Etihad Airways has signed three African partnership agreements in July: an interline agreement with Fastjet in Zimbabwe earlier this month, followed by agreements with Air Peace in Nigeria and Africa World Airlines in Ghana. Together with the six African destinations Etihad announced in April, the agreements mean guests will connect across the continent from the day the new routes begin.
The interline agreement with Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, signed in Lagos on 22 July, opens 20 destinations across Nigeria, West and Central Africa to Etihad’s guests. The Memorandum of Understanding with Africa World Airlines, the Accra-based carrier serving Ghana and the wider region, signed in Accra on 24 July, sets out cooperation across codeshare, interline, cargo and loyalty.
The week completes a month of partnership building that began with Fastjet Zimbabwe, whose network extends Etihad’s reach into Southern Africa ahead of the airline’s Harare flights. The July agreements also build 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.
The African partnerships follow a deliberate sequence. 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 mirrors the UAE’s own deepening ties with the continent, exemplified by the Comprehensive 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. When our new African routes take off, the partner network behind them will already be in place.”
Tickets combining the partner networks will become available as each agreement takes effect. For more information, visit etihad.com.
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Etihad’s upcoming African routes
| Origin | Destination | Frequency (weekly) | Launch date |
| Abu Dhabi | Asmara, Eritrea | 4 | 7 November 2026 |
| Abu Dhabi | Lagos, Nigeria | 7 | 23 March 2027 |
| Abu Dhabi | Kinshasa, DR Congo | 3 | 23 March 2027 |
| Abu Dhabi | Accra, Ghana | 4 | 24 March 2027 |
| Abu Dhabi | Harare, Zimbabwe / Lubumbashi, DR Congo | 3 | 24 March 2027 |
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was formed in 2003 and quickly went on to become one of the world’s leading airlines. From its home in Abu Dhabi, Etihad flies to passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Together with Etihad’s codeshare partners, Etihad’s network offers access to hundreds of international destinations. In recent years, Etihad has received numerous awards for its superior service and products, cargo offering, loyalty programme and more. To learn more, visit etihad.com.
