Etihad Airways and Nigeria’s Air Peace have signed an interline agreement expanding travel options across Nigeria, West Africa and Central Africa, deepening links between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the continent.

Announced in Lagos on July 23, the deal lets Etihad passengers book a single ticket from Abu Dhabi to 20 destinations on Air Peace’s network via Lagos and Accra, Ghana. Nigerian cities covered include Abuja, Asaba, Benin City, Enugu, Kano, Owerri, Port Harcourt and Warri, alongside regional points such as Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire; Bamako, Mali; Banjul, Gambia; Conakry, Guinea; Dakar, Senegal; Douala, Cameroon; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Libreville, Gabon; and Monrovia, Liberia.

The agreement follows the UAE-Nigeria Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed in January and taps a Nigerian diaspora market in the Emirates alongside Nigeria’s status as Africa’s most populous nation and one of its largest economies.

It builds on Etihad’s April African expansion strategy, which includes daily Abu Dhabi-Lagos flights from March 18, 2027.

“Our ambitions in Africa are long term, and Nigeria sits at the center of them,” said Etihad Chief Commercial and Revenue Officer Arik De. “This agreement gives our guests access to one of the continent’s most extensive domestic and regional networks.”

Air Peace Chief Commercial Officer Nowel Ngala said the tie-up would open new routes for regional travelers to reach Abu Dhabi once Etihad’s new services launch, while giving Etihad passengers access to the airline’s wider network.

The move puts Etihad alongside Emirates, currently the only carrier flying nonstop between the UAE and Nigeria, operating daily Dubai-Lagos Boeing 777-300ER service and holding its own Air Peace interline agreement.

According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, Emirates currently offers nearly 5,000 two-way weekly seats on the route. Sabre data shows 63% of 2025 UAE-Nigeria traffic originated beyond the UAE, led by China and India.

Air Peace remains Nigeria’s largest carrier by capacity, with roughly 74,800 weekly departure seats—22.3% of the country’s scheduled capacity—spread across 18 domestic airports. Lagos accounts for 35% of its network and Abuja 25%. Internationally, it serves London Heathrow, Gatwick, Accra and Bridgetown, Barbados, with Douala, Libreville, Bamako and Conakry launching in August, alongside newly approved Brazil flights.