Etihad boosts Abu Dhabi–Africa cargo corridor

Etihad Airways has signed three African partnership agreements with Fastjet, Air Peace and Africa World Airlines, expanding its connectivity across the continent ahead of the launch of six new African routes from November 2026.

The agreements include cooperation across cargo, interline and codeshare operations. The Memorandum of Understanding with Africa World Airlines, signed in Accra on 24 July, includes collaboration in cargo, while the agreement with Air Peace will extend Etihad’s reach across Nigeria, West and Central Africa.

The partnerships follow Etihad’s announcement of six new African destinations in April and build on its strategic partnership with Ethiopian Airlines. Together, the agreements will support Etihad’s efforts to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s role as a trade corridor connecting Africa with India and Asia, where demand for air cargo capacity continues to grow.

Arik De, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial and Revenue Officer, said: "Africa is one of the fastest-growing aviation regions in the world, and this month we have moved quickly to grow with it. Three agreements in July, each shaped to its market: the reach of Fastjet in Southern Africa, the breadth of Air Peace's network and the depth of a strategic framework with Africa World Airlines. When our new African routes take off, the partner network behind them will already be in place."