Air Peace, Ethiopian Airlines Partner to Expand Passenger Access to Global Destinations

Ethiopian Airlines and Air Peace have signed a bilateral interline agreement to strengthen air transport connections between Nigeria, other African countries and international destinations, offering passengers expanded travel options through the combined networks of the two carriers.

The agreement is expected to improve connectivity between West Africa and major international markets by integrating the domestic, regional and international operations of both airlines, while simplifying booking and baggage arrangements for connecting passengers.

The partnership brings together Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading aviation group, and Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading carrier, in an arrangement designed to make travel across the continent and beyond more convenient and accessible.

Under the agreement, both airlines will be able to issue tickets for eligible journeys involving flights operated by the two carriers. Passengers travelling on qualifying itineraries will also benefit from through-checked baggage services to their final destinations, where applicable.

The arrangement means that travellers connecting between the airlines will no longer need to make separate bookings for eligible journeys or go through the inconvenience of collecting and re-checking their baggage at connecting points.

The development is expected to particularly benefit Nigerian passengers seeking connections to destinations not directly served by Air Peace, as the airline will be able to leverage Ethiopian Airlines’ extensive international network through its Addis Ababa hub.

Ethiopian Airlines operates an extensive network covering destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Through the interline arrangement, passengers departing from major Nigerian and West African cities will have improved access to these destinations.

Similarly, Ethiopian Airlines passengers arriving in Nigeria will have expanded onward connections to several domestic and regional destinations through Air Peace’s network.

The partnership is also expected to make Nigeria more accessible to international travellers, particularly business executives, tourists and other passengers whose final destinations are outside Lagos and other major international entry points.

Speaking on the agreement, Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mesfin Tasew, said the partnership reflected the airlines’ shared determination to improve passenger experience and support the development of air transport across Africa.

He said the combination of their networks would create additional travel opportunities and strengthen connections between the continent and the rest of the world.

“We are delighted to partner with Air Peace, a leading carrier in Nigeria, through this strategic interline agreement.

“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to enhancing connectivity, improving customer convenience, and supporting the growth of air travel across the African continent. By combining our strengths, we are creating more travel opportunities and bringing Africa closer to the world,” Tasew said.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, described the agreement as a significant milestone in the airline’s drive to promote stronger aviation connections across Africa.

He said the partnership would enable Air Peace to leverage its extensive domestic and regional network, alongside its growing international operations, to complement Ethiopian Airlines’ global reach.

According to him, the arrangement would provide passengers with more seamless travel opportunities while strengthening economic and cultural relationships across the continent.

“This partnership with Ethiopian Airlines represents another significant milestone in our commitment to strengthening Africa’s aviation connectivity and bringing the continent closer together.

“By combining Air Peace’s extensive domestic, regional network, and our growing international network with Ethiopian Airlines’ global reach, we are creating greater opportunities for seamless travel in and out of the African continent,” Onyema said.

He explained that the partnership was driven by a broader vision of using aviation to facilitate stronger commercial relationships, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges among African countries.

Onyema added that Air Peace would continue to pursue strategic alliances capable of improving passenger convenience, expanding connectivity and strengthening the competitiveness of African airlines in the global aviation industry.

The agreement is significant against the backdrop of persistent connectivity challenges facing the African aviation market, where inadequate direct flight connections between countries have continued to affect the ease and cost of intra-African travel.

Despite the continent’s enormous economic potential and growing demand for air transport, passengers travelling between several African countries still encounter lengthy journeys, multiple connections and complicated ticketing arrangements.

The integration of airline networks through interline agreements offers one way of addressing these challenges by allowing carriers to extend their reach beyond destinations served by their individual operations.

For Nigeria, the partnership could strengthen the country’s links with international markets while providing Air Peace with access to a wider passenger distribution network.

It also presents an opportunity for Ethiopian Airlines to deepen its presence in the Nigerian market by offering passengers additional domestic and regional connections through a local airline with an extensive route network.

Beyond passenger convenience, the agreement is expected to support trade, tourism, investment and other economic activities by facilitating the movement of people between African countries and international destinations.

This is particularly important as African governments intensify efforts to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to promote economic integration, expand intra-African trade and create a more connected continental market.

Efficient air transport remains an important requirement for achieving these objectives, particularly in facilitating business engagements, attracting investments, connecting commercial centres and supporting the movement of professionals and tourists.

Improved air connectivity can also stimulate tourism by making destinations more accessible to international visitors and reducing the travel difficulties associated with multiple bookings and separate baggage arrangements.

The Ethiopian Airlines-Air Peace partnership is therefore expected to create opportunities for businesses and travellers by improving access to destinations across the continent and beyond.

For the airlines, the agreement reinforces the growing importance of strategic cooperation in an increasingly competitive global aviation industry, where partnerships provide opportunities to expand network coverage, attract more passengers and improve the value of services offered.

Although the arrangement does not in itself announce new direct flight routes between the two airlines, its ticketing and baggage provisions will enable eligible passengers to enjoy more integrated journeys across their respective networks.

The partnership also underscores the need for African carriers to explore greater cooperation rather than operate in isolation, particularly as the continent seeks to improve its share of global air traffic.

With their combined network strengths, Ethiopian Airlines and Air Peace are seeking to make cross-border and international journeys more convenient while contributing to the development of a better-connected and more competitive African aviation industry.