Etihad Airways and Ibom Air have concluded an interline agreement that will provide single-ticket connectivity between the United Arab Emirates carrier’s West African gateways and five domestic points in Nigeria, effective from the launch of Etihad’s operations to the region in March 2027.
Under the arrangement, passengers arriving on Etihad services into Lagos and Accra will be able to connect onward via Ibom Air to Abuja, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Enugu. The agreement also provides for connections between Accra and Abuja and Accra and Uyo. Through-checked baggage and unified booking will apply across both networks for the entire itinerary.
The development extends Etihad’s commercial reach beyond its two gateway cities into Nigeria’s South-South, South-East and Federal Capital Territory markets, with Uyo and Calabar adding new single-ticket access points alongside Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu for business, visiting friends and relatives (VFR), and leisure traffic.
Etihad’s nonstop service from Abu Dhabi to West Africa will commence in March 2027 with a daily frequency to Lagos from 23 March 2027 and four weekly frequencies to Accra from 24 March 2027.
The agreement was finalized ahead of the route launches to ensure immediate feed beyond the gateways from day one of operations.
Commenting on the partnership, Etihad Airways Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Arik De, said: “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. Having this in place before our Accra and Lagos flights begin next March means we arrive in the region already connected to the cities beyond them.”
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air, George Uriesi, expressed his optimism in the partnership: “This agreement marks a significant milestone in our journey to becoming a truly world-class African regional airline. It enables international travellers to access the cities we serve through a single booking, enhancing connectivity and convenience. Additionally, it positions Ibom Air as the key domestic and regional connection for Etihad Airways’ operations into Nigeria and Ghana from next year. We look forward to welcoming Etihad’s guests onboard and showcasing the excellent service that defines the Ibom Air experience”, he said.
The combined inventory is scheduled to open for sale from 3 November 2026 via both carriers’ distribution channels.
Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates established in 2003, operates passenger and cargo services from Abu Dhabi to destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America, with further reach through its codeshare network.
Ibom Air, the Akwa Ibom State Government-owned carrier, operates a fleet of seven Bombardier CRJ900s and two Airbus A220-300s, serving seven domestic destinations as well as Accra, Ghana, with a business model centred on schedule integrity, on-time performance and service quality.
