Etihad, Ibom Air seal deal to link 5 Nigerian cities to global network

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Nigeria’s Ibom Air have signed an interline agreement that will connect five Nigerian cities to Etihad’s international network through Lagos and Accra from March 2027.

Under the agreement, passengers flying Etihad Airways will be able to travel beyond Lagos and Accra to Abuja, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Enugu on a single ticket.

The arrangement will also provide connections between Accra and Abuja, as well as Accra and Uyo, further expanding travel options between Nigeria, Ghana and Etihad’s global destinations.

The agreement means passengers will make one booking for their entire journey, while checked baggage will be transferred through to their final destination.

The development is expected to strengthen international access to Uyo and Calabar in particular, while linking the two cities with Etihad’s wider network through Lagos and Accra.

Etihad is scheduled to commence daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Lagos on March 23, 2027, while its Abu Dhabi–Accra service will begin on March 24, 2027, with four flights weekly.

Speaking on the agreement, Etihad Airways’ Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Arik De, said the airline’s ambitions in Africa were long-term, with Nigeria occupying a central position in its expansion strategy.