Etihad Airways Launches Service to Six New Destinations Across Africa

Etihad Airways has announced the addition of service to six new destinations across Africa, including new service from Abu Dhabi to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

Etihad Airways Expands African Network With Direct Service to Six New Destinations - Courtesy Etihad Airways

On Friday (April 17, 2026), Etihad Airways announced an expansion of their African network with new service form Abu Dhabi to six new destinations, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, as part of their continued global growth strategy.  This expansion builds on Etihad’s recently announced China growth, including increased frequencies and a deepened partnership with China Eastern Airlines. These developments position Abu Dhabi as a key gateway between Africa, India and Asia, enabling more efficient movement of goods, investment and people between two of the world’s fastest-growing regions.  This also complements Etihad’s strategic joint venture with Ethiopian Airlines, which this month marked 80 years of operations, further strengthening connectivity across the African continent.

In Friday’s announcement, Etihad Airways’ CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, said,

“Africa is a natural and compelling next step in Etihad's network expansion. These are markets with strong underlying demand, driven by trade, investment and population growth. Our role is to provide the connectivity that enables that growth.  Demand for air connectivity across key African markets is outpacing existing supply, particularly in cargo and trade-linked sectors. This expansion is a direct response to that structural opportunity.

“By extending our network alongside our recent China expansion, we are enabling a more efficient corridor linking Africa, the Middle East and Asia through Abu Dhabi. For passengers, this creates simpler, faster journeys. For cargo, it provides more direct and reliable access between two regions where trade is growing rapidly.”

The addition of these new African routes enables one-stop connectivity between key cities across Africa and Asia via Abu Dhabi, creating a more efficient and commercially relevant corridor for both passengers and cargo.  Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport sits at the center of these flows, offering efficient connections across Etihad’s expanding global network, with geographic reach spanning Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.  Etihad Cargo, the largest freighter operator between China and the Middle East, will also benefit from the new routes, offering belly-hold capacity with dedicated freight products tailored to the specific export and import needs of each destination market.

Source: Etihad Airways