Etihad Airways Signs Three African Airline Partnerships to Boost Continental Connectivity
Etihad Airways has signed three new partnership agreements in July 2026 to strengthen its African network ahead of the launch of six new African routes announced in April. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier has entered interline agreements with Zimbabwe's Fastjet and Nigeria's Air Peace and signed a memorandum of understanding with Ghana-based Africa World Airlines covering planned cooperation in codeshare, interline, cargo, and loyalty programmes. The Air Peace agreement, signed on 22 July, provides Etihad with access to 20 destinations across Nigeria, West, and Central Africa.
The partnerships extend Etihad's reach across West, Central, and Southern Africa, building on its existing strategic joint venture with Ethiopian Airlines and supporting Abu Dhabi's positioning as a gateway between Africa, India, and Asia. Chief Commercial and Revenue Officer Arik De noted that the partner network will be in place before the new African routes launch, reflecting the airline's intent to move quickly in one of the world's fastest-growing aviation regions. Etihad and Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism have also recently introduced a free medical travel insurance programme for eligible international visitors flying to or via the UAE capital.
