Etihad Airways and Africa World Airlines (AWA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening air connectivity between Ghana, West Africa and other continents through passenger, cargo and loyalty programmes.
The agreement, signed in Accra last Friday, seeks to pave the way for interline and codeshare services that would enable passengers to travel on a single ticket from Accra to destinations across AWA's West African network and connect seamlessly through Abu Dhabi to more than 118 destinations served by Etihad Airways.
The partnership, which took effect from July 24, 2026, also lays the foundation for Etihad Airways' planned direct Abu Dhabi-Accra service scheduled to commence on March 24, 2027.
It is expected to deepen aviation, trade and investment ties between Ghana and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while providing greater travel opportunities for passengers and businesses in the region.
Partnership
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Chief Commercial and Revenue Officer of Etihad Airways, Arik De, said Ghana was one of West Africa's fastest-growing aviation markets and added that the partnership reflected the airline's commitment to expanding its footprint on the continent.
He said the agreement would connect Ghanaian travellers and businesses to Abu Dhabi and Etihad's extensive global network, while supporting the airline's expansion strategy in Africa.
"This framework spans passenger services, cargo and loyalty, and it will connect Ghanaian travellers and businesses to Abu Dhabi and to our network across the world's fastest-growing markets. We are here to grow with Ghana," he said.
Mr De explained that the initial phase of the partnership would focus on an interline arrangement that would allow passengers to book a single ticket covering both airlines' networks.
"You can fly from anywhere in our network to Abu Dhabi, continue to Accra and then connect," he said.
Regional expansion
The Chief Operating Officer of Africa World Airlines, Sohail Mahmood, said the partnership marked a significant milestone in the airline's growth strategy and would strengthen connectivity within West Africa.
He said AWA's domestic and regional network, which currently serves Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi, Lagos, Abuja and Ouagadougou, would provide a strong feeder network for Etihad's global operations.
"This partnership with Etihad Airways across passenger, cargo and loyalty will give our customers a direct line to Abu Dhabi's expansive network, while supporting greater opportunities for Ghanaian travellers and international businesses," he said.
Mr Mahmood said AWA would begin the next phase of its regional expansion with the reintroduction of flights to Abidjan on August 31 this year, to be followed by services to Freetown, Monrovia, Conakry, Banjul and Dakar over the next nine to 12 months.
He further explained that the MoU would bridge the gap in regional air connectivity by linking West African travellers to destinations in the Middle East, Asia, North America and beyond through Abu Dhabi.
"We are trying to bridge the gap for African travellers and for people coming into Africa by providing seamless connections through our combined networks," he said.
