Emirati company Etihad Airways and Ghanaian carrier Africa World Airlines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop their cooperation in the transport of passengers and goods. This partnership, which precedes the launch of the Abu Dhabi–Accra link scheduled for March 2027, is part of the strengthening of trade between the United Arab Emirates and West Africa.
Etihad Airways and Africa World Airlines (AWA) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership between the two companies.
Signed in Accra and entered into force on 24 July 2026, the Agreement provides for the gradual implementation of several areas of cooperation, including interline agreements, codeshare sharing, air freight and loyalty programmes.
The aim is to facilitate connections between the two carriers' networks and to improve connectivity between West Africa, the Middle East and other international markets.
Once the various components are operational, Etihad passengers will be able to continue their journey from Accra to several destinations served by Africa World Airlines in Ghana and West Africa with a single ticket.
For their part, Ghana's customers will have access to the international network of Etihad, which serves 118 destinations from its Abu Dhabi hub. The partnership also takes place upstream of the opening of the Abu Dhabi–Accra line, which is scheduled to launch on 24 March 2027.
The agreement also covers freight transport, a strategic segment in the development of trade between the two regions. Both companies plan to connect Ghanaian and West African exporters to Etihad Cargo's global network capabilities.
Cooperation is also envisaged between their loyalty programmes to enable travellers to accumulate and use their benefits on both networks.
This rapprochement takes place in a context of strengthening economic relations between Ghana and the United Arab Emirates, marked by increased trade, investment and passenger flows. It is also part of the strategy of expansion of Etihad Airways on the African continent.
In recent months, the company has increased its announcements of new services and partnerships to strengthen its presence in Africa, in an environment where Gulf carriers are seeking to consolidate their position in African air and freight markets.
