Inside the Air Peace, Ethiopian Airlines interline partnership

In a move expected to significantly reshape the continent’s aviation landscape, West and Central Africa’s largest carrier, Air Peace, has sealed a landmark bilateral interline agreement with Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading aviation group.

The strategic partnership is designed to seamlessly bridge domestic, regional, and global networks, offering passengers unprecedented travel convenience and connectivity across Africa and beyond.

Under the new agreement, both carriers will collaborate extensively on passenger travel and checked baggage services.

For travellers, the arrangement means a streamlined, hassle-free journey. Passengers can now book qualifying itineraries involving flights from both airlines on a single ticket, complemented by through-checked baggage all the way to their final destination.

This eliminates the traditional hurdles of making separate bookings, clearing customs twice, and re-checking bags at transit hubs.

The partnership creates a powerful synergy between the two networks as passengers departing from major Nigerian and West African cities via Air Peace gain smooth, one-stop access to Ethiopian Airlines’ vast, multi-continent network spanning Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas, and the rest of Africa through the airline’s Addis Ababa hub.

For international visitors, global travellers arriving on Ethiopian Airlines can now easily connect to an array of domestic and regional destinations across Nigeria and West Africa serviced by Air Peace.

Commenting on the historic alliance, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mr Mesfin Tasew, highlighted the shared mission of both carriers:

“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.”

Echoing these sentiments, Allen Onyema, Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, emphasised the broader impact of the partnership on African integration:

“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 and 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.

“Beyond expanding travel options, this collaboration reflects our shared vision of fostering stronger economic, commercial, and cultural ties across Africa and beyond. At Air Peace, we remain committed to building strategic partnerships that enhance passenger convenience, broaden connectivity, and position African aviation as a formidable force in global air transport.”

Industry watchers note that the agreement’s timing aligns closely with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

As African economies increasingly push for economic integration, enhanced air connectivity remains a vital catalyst for trade, tourism, investment, and business mobility.

By dismantling travel complexities and opening up new market corridors, the Air Peace and Ethiopian Airlines partnership not only bridges critical aviation gaps but also lays a robust foundation for a more competitive, connected, and prosperous African skies sector.

Wole Shadare