Etihad, Ibom Air Partner to Connect Five Nigerian Cities From March 2027

Etihad Airways and Nigerian carrier Ibom Air have signed an interline agreement that will allow passengers travelling with the UAE-based airline to connect to five Nigerian cities on a single ticket from March 2027.

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

The partnership comes ahead of Etihad’s planned launch of direct services to Lagos and Accra in March 2027. The airline is scheduled to begin daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Lagos on March 23, 2027, followed by four weekly flights to Accra from March 24.

According to Etihad, the agreement will expand travel options for passengers travelling to Nigeria for business, family visits and tourism, while giving international travellers access to destinations beyond Lagos and Accra through Ibom Air’s domestic network.

Etihad Airways Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Arik De, said the partnership reflects the airline’s long-term ambitions in Africa, with Nigeria playing a central role in its expansion plans.

“Our ambitions in Africa are long-term, and Nigeria sits at the centre of them,” he said, adding that Ibom Air’s domestic network would help Etihad connect passengers to cities beyond its initial destinations in Nigeria and Ghana.

Ibom Air Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, George Uriesi, described the agreement as a significant milestone for the airline’s expansion.

He said the arrangement would enable international travellers to access cities served by Ibom Air through a single booking, improving connectivity and convenience for passengers. Tickets combining the networks of both airlines are scheduled to go on sale from November 3, 2026. The agreement is expected to strengthen connections between international air travel and domestic destinations across Nigeria.

By Mohammed Boluwatife