Etihad Airways, Ibom Air sign interline agreement connecting Nigeria to global network

Business, Corporate Affairs

ABU DHABI, UAE (NPA) — Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and Nigerian carrier Ibom Air have signed an interline agreement that will enable travellers to connect to five Nigerian cities on a single ticket when Etihad’s Accra and Lagos services begin in March 2027.

Under the agreement, Etihad passengers arriving in Lagos or Accra will be able to continue their journeys on Ibom Air to Abuja, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Enugu.

The arrangement will also provide connections between Accra and Abuja, and between Accra and Uyo. Passengers will be able to make the entire journey under a single booking, with baggage checked through to their final destinations.

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The agreement expands Etihad’s connectivity beyond Lagos and Accra, giving international travellers access to key destinations across southern Nigeria, including Uyo and Calabar, as well as Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu.

Etihad’s non-stop services between Abu Dhabi and the region are scheduled to begin in March 2027, with four weekly flights to Accra commencing on March 24 and a daily service to Lagos starting on March 23.

Arik De, Etihad Airways Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, said the partnership reflected the airline’s long-term ambitions 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,” he said.

De said having the agreement in place before Etihad’s Accra and Lagos services begin would ensure that the airline entered the region with connections to cities beyond its two initial destinations.

George Uriesi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air, said the agreement represented a significant milestone in the airline’s drive to become a world-class African regional carrier.

He said the partnership would enable international travellers to access Ibom Air’s destinations through a single booking while improving convenience and connectivity.

“It positions Ibom Air as the key domestic and regional connection for Etihad Airways’ operations into Nigeria and Ghana from next year,” Uriesi said.

He added that the airline looked forward to welcoming Etihad passengers and showcasing its service.

Tickets combining the two airlines’ networks will be available from November 3, 2026.

Etihad Airways, established in 2003, operates from its Abu Dhabi base to passenger and cargo destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Its codeshare partnerships provide access to hundreds of international destinations.

Ibom Airlines Limited, wholly owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government, focuses on schedule reliability, on-time departures and service quality.

Ibom Air operates a fleet comprising seven Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft and two Airbus A220-300s, serving seven domestic destinations and Accra, Ghana.