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

Once the routes are launched, the agreement will also give Air Peace’s customers access to Etihad’s services to Abu Dhabi.

An interline agreement is a commercial arrangement between two or more airlines that allows passengers to travel on a single itinerary across multiple carriers, with coordinated ticketing, baggage handling, and passenger

Under the agreement between both airlines, 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.

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.

Speaking on the development, 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, and it brings Air Peace’s customers to Abu Dhabi to experience our home. Partnerships like this are how we grow: with strong airlines that know their markets better than anyone.”

Also commenting, 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.” (TRINUNE)