Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Nigerian carrier Ibom Air have signed an interline agreement that will allow passengers to travel between Etihad’s international network and five Nigerian cities on a single ticket.
Gatekeepers News reports that the agreement will enable Etihad passengers arriving through Lagos or Accra to connect on Ibom Air flights to Abuja, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Enugu. Passengers will also have connections between Accra and Abuja, as well as Accra and Uyo.
Under the arrangement, travellers will make the entire journey under one booking, while their baggage will be checked through to their final destinations.
The partnership will take effect alongside Etihad’s planned launch of direct services to Lagos and Accra in March 2027. Etihad is scheduled to begin daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Lagos on March 23, 2027, while its Abu Dhabi-Accra service will operate four times weekly from March 24, 2027.
Tickets combining the two airlines’ networks are expected to go on sale from November 3, 2026, ahead of the commencement of the new services.
Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, said the agreement was part of the airline’s long-term expansion plans in Africa, with Nigeria playing a central role.
“Our ambitions in Africa are long-term, and Nigeria sits at the centre of them. Ibom Air has built a strong domestic network from its base in Uyo, and partnerships with airlines that know their own markets are how we grow on the continent,” De said.
He added that putting the partnership in place before the Lagos and Accra services begin would mean Etihad would enter the region with connections to destinations beyond the two cities.
George Uriesi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air, described the agreement as a significant milestone in the airline’s development.
“This agreement marks a significant milestone in our journey to becoming a truly world-class African regional airline,” Uriesi said.
He said the arrangement would allow international travellers to access Ibom Air’s destinations through a single booking while positioning the Nigerian carrier as a key domestic and regional connection for Etihad’s operations into Nigeria and Ghana.
The agreement expands on Etihad’s Nigeria connectivity strategy. In July, UAE airline also announced an interline agreement with Air Peace covering 20 destinations across Nigeria, West and Central Africa.
