Etihad Airways has strengthened its footprint in Africa by signing three strategic airline partnership agreements with Fastjet Zimbabwe, Air Peace of Nigeria and Ghana’s Africa World Airlines (AWA), a move aimed at significantly improving connectivity across the continent ahead of the launch of six new African routes later this year.
The agreements, concluded throughout July 2026, will enable passengers travelling with Etihad to seamlessly connect from its Abu Dhabi hub to more than 20 destinations across West, Central and Southern Africa on a single itinerary. The partnerships cover interline, codeshare, cargo and frequent flyer cooperation, depending on the individual agreement.
According to www.itij.com, the expansion supports Etihad’s broader African growth strategy, which includes the launch of six new destinations—Accra (Ghana), Lagos (Nigeria), Harare (Zimbabwe), Asmara (Eritrea), Kinshasa and Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of Congo)—beginning from November 2026 and continuing into 2027. The partnership with Fastjet Zimbabwe, signed in Harare, allows Etihad customers to book a single ticket connecting beyond Harare to Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Johannesburg, making travel across Southern Africa more convenient. The agreement also lays the foundation for future codeshare and loyalty programme cooperation.
In Nigeria, Etihad signed an interline agreement with Air Peace, giving travellers access to more than 20 domestic, West African and Central African destinations beyond Lagos. The arrangement is expected to improve connectivity for business and leisure travellers while strengthening Nigeria’s role as a regional aviation hub. The third agreement, signed with Africa World Airlines (AWA) in Accra, establishes a strategic partnership covering passenger services, cargo operations and loyalty programmes. Under the arrangement, Etihad passengers will be able to travel beyond Accra to AWA’s regional network across Ghana and neighbouring countries, while AWA customers will gain access to Etihad’s extensive global network via Abu Dhabi.
According to Etihad, the partnerships are designed to transform Abu Dhabi into a stronger gateway linking Africa with the Middle East, Asia and other international markets. The agreements are also expected to enhance cargo connectivity, facilitate trade and support the growing movement of tourists and business travellers between Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The airline said the collaborative approach reflects its commitment to expanding connectivity through strategic partnerships rather than relying solely on direct flights. By leveraging the networks of established African carriers, Etihad aims to provide customers with more destinations, shorter travel times and seamless transfers across the continent.
The latest agreements reinforce Africa’s growing importance in Etihad’s global expansion strategy and are expected to strengthen aviation, tourism, trade and investment links between the continent and the Gulf region.
