Emirates and Air Peace have activated a bilateral interline agreement that significantly expands air connectivity between West Africa, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United Kingdom, creating streamlined travel options for passengers across both airline networks.
The partnership, announced Sunday in Dubai, builds on an existing relationship between the world’s largest international airline and West Africa’s biggest carrier. The agreement enables passengers to book single ticket journeys with through checked baggage on select routes, eliminating the complexity of separate bookings and baggage rechecks during connections.
Beyond the 13 Nigerian cities already accessible to Emirates passengers through Air Peace’s network, the enhanced agreement now connects travelers with Banjul in Gambia and Dakar in Senegal via Abidjan, alongside Freetown in Sierra Leone and Monrovia in Liberia via Accra. These additional gateways provide thousands more African travelers with access to Emirates’ expansive global network spanning over 140 destinations.
The partnership allows Air Peace to connect its extensive West and Central African route system into Emirates’ Dubai hub, with onward connections to London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London Stansted. The arrangement addresses strong demand for travel between Nigeria and Britain, offering passengers increased flexibility and global reach.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized the strategic value of deepening the partnership. He noted that enhancing collaboration with Air Peace expands Emirates’ footprint across Africa while creating opportunities for international tourists to explore the region through Lagos. The executive stressed Emirates’ commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s aviation, tourism and trade sectors through strategic partnerships.
Nowel Ngala, Air Peace Chief Commercial Officer, described the interline agreement as representing a major advance in the Nigerian carrier’s strategic vision to connect Africa more efficiently with global markets. He explained that combining Air Peace’s regional presence with Emirates’ international network delivers seamless connectivity, improved travel experiences, and greater access to key destinations for African travelers.
Emirates operates a Boeing 777 300ER aircraft on its Dubai to Lagos route, offering First Class cabin service alongside premium meal service designed by award winning chefs and more than 6,500 entertainment channels on its ice inflight system. The airline is one of only two carriers operating First Class service into Nigeria, providing an elevated travel experience defined by comfort and privacy.
Air Peace operates a fleet exceeding 50 aircraft including Boeing 777s, Boeing 737s and Embraer models, serving domestic, regional and international routes that connect major cities across Africa and beyond. The airline has positioned itself as a critical bridge linking African markets with the global aviation network while supporting trade, tourism and economic development across the continent.
The interline arrangement reflects broader trends in African aviation, where strategic partnerships between African carriers and global airlines are becoming increasingly important for expanding connectivity options. These collaborations enable African airlines to offer seamless access to worldwide destinations without requiring massive capital investments in long haul aircraft fleets.
For Emirates, the agreement strengthens Dubai’s position as a preferred transit hub for travelers moving between Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The UAE has been steadily deepening economic ties with African nations, with improved air connectivity serving as a crucial enabler for trade, investment and tourism flows.
Air Peace has been aggressively expanding its international footprint, having launched direct flights to London Gatwick in recent years. The Emirates partnership provides the Nigerian carrier with additional ammunition to compete against European legacy carriers that have historically dominated Africa to Europe routes.
The 13 Nigerian destinations already available to Emirates passengers through Air Peace include Asaba, Abuja, Akure, Benin City, Calabar, Enugu, Ilorin, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Warri and Uyo. These cities represent Nigeria’s major economic, commercial and political centers, providing Emirates with extensive reach throughout Africa’s most populous nation.
Passengers can book interline tickets through emirates.com, flyairpeace.com or authorized travel agents. The through checked baggage feature means travelers only need to check their luggage once at the origin airport, with bags automatically transferred during connections, significantly reducing transit complexity and the risk of lost baggage.
The aviation partnership comes at a time when African air travel demand is recovering strongly following pandemic disruptions. International Air Transport Association projections indicate Africa will be among the fastest growing aviation markets globally over the next decade, driven by rising middle class populations, urbanization and economic development.
Ghana stands to benefit substantially from the expanded connectivity, with Accra serving as a crucial connection point for passengers traveling between Emirates’ global network and destinations in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The country’s position as a regional aviation hub continues strengthening as airlines expand West African route networks.
The agreement represents another step in Air Peace’s transformation from a domestic Nigerian carrier into a pan African airline with growing international relevance. The carrier has been steadily building partnerships with global airlines while expanding its own route network across the continent and to Europe.
