Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, and Etihad Airways have entered into an interline agreement aimed at expanding travel options between Nigeria, West and Central Africa, and the Middle East, in a move expected to deepen regional connectivity and strengthen commercial ties between the United Arab Emirates and Africa.

The partnership, announced by both airlines in a jointly signed statement, will enable passengers travelling with Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, to seamlessly connect from Lagos and Accra to more than 20 destinations across Nigeria, West and Central Africa through Air Peace’s extensive domestic and regional network.

Under the agreement, travellers will be able to complete their journeys on a single ticket, allowing smoother transfers and greater convenience to key Nigerian cities, including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Benin City, Owerri, Warri and Asaba.

The arrangement also extends to regional destinations such as Abidjan, Dakar, Banjul, Freetown, Monrovia, Conakry, Bamako, Douala and Libreville.

For Etihad Airways, the agreement forms part of its broader African expansion strategy announced earlier this year, which includes the commencement of daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Lagos.

The airline added that once the service begins, passengers will be able to connect seamlessly through Abu Dhabi into Nigeria and across West Africa via Air Peace’s network.

Speaking on the partnership, Chief Commercial and Revenue Officer of Etihad Airways, Arik De, described Nigeria as a key market in the airline’s long-term African growth strategy.

De 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. Partnerships like this are how we grow with strong airlines that know their markets better than anyone.”

He noted that the collaboration reflects Etihad’s commitment to expanding its footprint across the continent while providing passengers with wider access to destinations through trusted local airline partners.

Also commenting on the agreement, Chief Commercial Officer of Air Peace, Nowel Ngala, said the partnership aligns with the airline’s vision of improving connectivity for Nigerian and West African travellers while opening new international opportunities for its customers.

Ngala 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.”

He added, “We look forward to welcoming travellers from both networks and delivering the seamless travel experience they expect.”