Etihad Airways is accelerating its expansion across Africa through three new airline partnerships with carriers in Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Ghana, strengthening connectivity between Abu Dhabi and key markets across the continent.
The airline has signed an interline agreement with Fastjet Zimbabwe, followed by a partnership with Nigeria’s Air Peace and a broader cooperation agreement with Ghana-based Africa World Airlines (AWA). Together, the agreements will extend Etihad’s reach well beyond the destinations served by its own aircraft.
Wider Access to West and Central Africa
The agreement with Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, was signed in Lagos on July 22 and will give Etihad guests access to 20 destinations across Nigeria, as well as markets in West and Central Africa.
Two days later, Etihad signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Africa World Airlines in Accra. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation covering codeshare and interline services, alongside cargo and loyalty programmes.
Meanwhile, the partnership with Fastjet Zimbabwe will strengthen Etihad’s presence in Southern Africa ahead of the launch of its planned services to Harare.
Building a Broader African Aviation Network
The latest agreements complement Etihad’s strategic joint venture with Ethiopian Airlines and form part of a broader effort to develop Abu Dhabi as a major connectivity hub between Africa, India and Asia.
In April, Etihad announced six new destinations across Africa. By establishing local airline partnerships ahead of those route launches, the carrier aims to provide onward connectivity across West and Southern Africa from the beginning of operations.
The strategy also aligns with strengthening economic ties between the UAE and Africa. The UAE’s growing relationship with Nigeria, for instance, was reinforced by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed between the two countries in January 2026.
Etihad Airways Expanding With Regional Demand
Etihad Airways Chief Commercial and Revenue Officer Arik De said Africa is among the world’s fastest-growing aviation regions and highlighted the different strengths of each new partnership.
The airline sees the combination of Fastjet’s Southern African network, Air Peace’s extensive Nigerian reach and Africa World Airlines’ broader strategic capabilities as a foundation for sustained growth.
With these partnerships in place, Etihad is positioning its expanding African network to support both passenger and cargo demand while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a gateway between Africa and major markets across Asia.
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