Etihad Airways and Ibom Air have signed an interline agreement that will link the United Arab Emirates carrier’s planned Lagos and Accra services to five Nigerian cities, expanding international travel access beyond the country’s main aviation gateways from March 2027.
The agreement will enable passengers arriving in Lagos or Accra on Etihad flights to connect to Abuja, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Enugu on Ibom Air under a single booking, eliminating the need to arrange separate tickets for the domestic leg of their journeys.
The arrangement also provides for connections between Accra and Abuja, as well as Accra and Uyo, while baggage will be checked through to passengers’ final destinations.
The partnership comes ahead of Etihad’s planned expansion into West Africa. The airline is scheduled to commence daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Lagos on March 23, 2027, followed by its Accra service on March 24, with four flights weekly.
Combined tickets for the Etihad and Ibom Air services are scheduled to go on sale from November 3, ahead of the launch of the new routes.
George Uriesi, managing director and chief executive officer of Ibom Air, said the partnership would give international travellers access to cities served by the Nigerian airline through a single booking.
The agreement also extends Etihad’s reach into Nigeria’s domestic market without requiring the airline to operate its own flights to all five destinations covered by the arrangement.
Under the interline model, passengers can combine eligible services operated by both airlines in one itinerary. The through-checking of baggage is intended to simplify transfers, although the precise connection procedures will depend on the terms of the agreement and applicable airport arrangements.
The deal is expected to improve the visibility of Uyo, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Enugu among travellers booking international journeys through Etihad’s network, particularly passengers whose final destinations lie beyond Lagos.
The partnership also provides a commercial link between Etihad’s long-haul network and Ibom Air’s domestic and regional operations. Its practical value, however, will depend on the availability of convenient connections, competitive combined fares and reliable coordination between the two carriers.
The planned launch dates and ticket-sales timetable place the agreement within Etihad’s entry into the Nigerian and Ghanaian markets, while giving Ibom Air an additional channel through which to reach international passengers.
