Air Peace and Ethiopian Airlines have entered into a bilateral interline agreement aimed at improving passenger connections between Nigeria, other African countries and international destinations by combining the reach of their respective route networks.
The arrangement will allow passengers to book eligible connecting journeys involving both airlines under a single ticket, while also benefiting from through-checked baggage to their final destinations, where applicable. The agreement is expected to simplify transfers and reduce the inconvenience of making separate bookings or collecting and rechecking luggage between flights.
The partnership will connect Air Peace’s extensive domestic and regional network, alongside its growing international operations, with Ethiopian Airlines’ global network spanning Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas, with Addis Ababa serving as a major connecting hub.
For Nigerian travellers, the arrangement will provide access to more international destinations through Ethiopian Airlines’ network, including markets not directly served by Air Peace. Similarly, passengers arriving in Nigeria on Ethiopian Airlines will have additional options for onward travel to domestic and regional destinations served by Air Peace.
Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer, Mesfin Tasew, said the agreement reflected both carriers’ commitment to improving passenger convenience and strengthening air transport connections across Africa.
He said combining their networks would create more travel opportunities and bring the continent closer to the rest of the world.
Air Peace Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, described the partnership as a significant step towards strengthening aviation connectivity across the continent. He said the airline’s domestic, regional and expanding international network would complement Ethiopian Airlines’ global reach, creating more convenient travel options for passengers moving in and out of Africa.
Onyema added that the agreement aligned with the airline’s broader ambition to use strategic partnerships to promote commercial relationships, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges across African markets.
The deal comes amid persistent connectivity challenges in the African aviation market, where limited direct services between many countries often leave passengers with lengthy journeys and multiple connections. Interline arrangements offer airlines an opportunity to extend their reach beyond their individually operated routes without necessarily introducing new direct services.
For Nigeria, the partnership could improve access to international markets while strengthening Air Peace’s ability to distribute passengers across a wider network. Ethiopian Airlines, in turn, gains additional domestic and regional connections through its Nigerian partner.
The agreement also has potential benefits for trade, tourism and investment by making travel between commercial centres and international markets more accessible. Improved air links are particularly relevant to the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which seeks to deepen economic integration and expand trade among African countries.
Ethiopian Airlines operates passenger and cargo services across more than 160 domestic and international destinations on five continents, while Air Peace serves destinations across Nigeria, Africa and selected international markets.
Although the agreement does not introduce new direct routes between the two carriers, it provides a framework for more integrated journeys across their networks, reinforcing the role of airline partnerships in expanding connectivity and improving the competitiveness of African aviation.
