Etihad Announces Six New African Destinations

Etihad Airways has recently unveiled one of the most significant expansions of its African route network in several years, adding six new destinations across five African countries. This strategic expansion aims to significantly enhance the airline’s presence across the continent, enabling stronger travel options and improved connectivity.

The new routes are designed to facilitate seamless travel between Africa and key markets, including the Middle East, India, China, and the wider Asia-Pacific region, all through the airline’s central hub located in Abu Dhabi. With this expansion, Etihad Airways is not only aiming to meet the growing demand for air travel within Africa but also to strengthen economic ties and tourism links across these regions. This significant development is a testament to Etihad’s commitment to enhancing global connectivity and promoting growth in the aviation sector.

Destination	Country	Launch Date	Frequency	Notes
Accra (ACC)	Ghana	17 March 2027	4 weekly flights	New Etihad destination in West Africa
Asmara (ASM)	Eritrea	7 November 2026	4 weekly flights	First of the six new African routes to launch
Lagos (LOS)	Nigeria	18 March 2027	Daily (7 weekly flights)	Marks Etihad’s return to Nigeria’s largest aviation market
Harare (HRE)	Zimbabwe	24 March 2027	3 weekly flights	Operated as part of a linked service with Lubumbashi
Kinshasa (FIH)	Democratic Republic of Congo	18 March 2027	3 weekly flights	Expands Etihad’s presence in Central Africa
Lubumbashi (FBM)	Democratic Republic of Congo	24 March 2027	3 weekly flights	Operated as part of a linked service with Harare

Summary

• 6 new African destinations
• 1 route launches in 2026: Asmara (4 weekly flights)
• 5 routes launch in March 2027
• Highest frequency: Lagos with daily service
• Joint operation: Harare and Lubumbashi will be served as a linked route with 3 weekly flights
• Countries added: Ghana, Eritrea, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (2 destinations)

The six new destinations build upon Etihad’s recent African expansion efforts, which have included launching flights to Addis Ababa through a partnership with Ethiopian Airlines and increasing frequencies to key destinations such as Nairobi. The airline has stated that strengthening its African presence remains a strategic priority as it continues to grow its fleet and global route network.