BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Emirates and Air Peace have activated a bilateral interline agreement that significantly expands travel connectivity between Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and London, strengthening passenger convenience and global access.
Building on an existing partnership, the enhanced agreement allows travelers on both airlines to enjoy frictionless single-ticket journeys on select routes, with through-checked baggage and smoother transfers.
The move is designed to simplify travel, reduce transit stress, and offer customers a more integrated flying experience across regional and long-haul destinations.
Beyond the 13 Nigerian cities already accessible to Emirates passengers via Air Peace’s network, the upgraded interline agreement now opens additional gateways across West Africa.
Travelers can now connect to Banjul in The Gambia and Dakar in Senegal through Abidjan, as well as Freetown in Sierra Leone and Monrovia in Liberia through Accra.
These new routes widen travel opportunities for African passengers while allowing more travelers to tap into Emirates’ premium services and expansive global network.
The partnership also strengthens Air Peace’s access to Emirates’ Dubai hub, creating smoother onward connections to key international destinations, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Abidjan, Accra, and Lagos.
With sustained demand for travel between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, the agreement gives Air Peace customers greater flexibility, more routing options, and enhanced global reach.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said the expanded interline reflects the airline’s long-term commitment to Africa’s aviation ecosystem.
Kazim noted; “Enhancing our interline partnership with Air Peace allows us to expand our footprint across more of Africa, creating new opportunities for people to fly better with Emirates, while helping international tourists explore more of the region, via Lagos. We remain committed to working with strategic partners such as Air Peace to further strengthen Nigeria’s aviation, tourism, and trade sectors.”
Corroborating, Air Peace Chief Commercial Officer, Nowel Ngala, described the agreement as a pivotal milestone in the airline’s growth strategy.
“This interline agreement with Emirates according to Ngala represents a major step in Air Peace’s strategic vision to connect Africa more efficiently to global markets. By combining our strong regional presence with Emirates’ extensive international network, we are delivering seamless connectivity, improved travel experience, and greater access to key global destinations for African travelers. This partnership further reinforces Air Peace’s role as a critical bridge between Africa and the global aviation ecosystem.”
The collaboration is expected to unlock broader economic benefits, supporting cross-border tourism, business travel, trade, and diaspora mobility.
By streamlining connections between regional African cities and major global hubs, the agreement positions Lagos as a stronger transit and gateway city for travelers moving between Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.
On the Lagos–Dubai route, Emirates currently operates a Boeing 777-300ER, delivering what the airline describes as one of the most premium onboard experiences available in Nigeria.
Passengers can enjoy regionally inspired multi-course meals curated by award-winning chefs, paired with a wide selection of premium beverages.
Travelers also have access to over 6,500 channels of global entertainment — including Nollywood titles — on ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment platform.
As one of only two airlines offering First Class service into Nigeria, Emirates continues to differentiate itself through luxury, privacy, and comfort, catering to premium travelers seeking an elevated flying experience.
Air Peace, on its part, brings a strong and expanding regional footprint to the partnership.
With a fleet of more than 50 aircraft — including Boeing 777s, Boeing 737s, and Embraer models — the airline operates an extensive network of domestic, regional, and international routes.
Its expansion strategy remains focused on strengthening intra-African connectivity, boosting trade and tourism, and contributing to economic growth across the continent.
The airline has positioned itself as a champion of African integration, working to close connectivity gaps within the region while linking African cities more competitively to global markets.
Travelers looking to benefit from the Emirates–Air Peace interline agreement can book tickets via emirates.com, flyairpeace.com, or through authorized travel agents.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
