Etihad Cargo is hoping to capitalise on the “significant” expansion of passenger operations across Africa as part of the airline’s efforts to grow in “high-growth markets”.
Etihad Airways yesterday announced an expansion of its Africa network, adding new routes to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe from Abu Dhabi.
The expansion will start towards the end of this year and continue in the spring of 2027.
“The new services reflect investment in high-growth markets, supporting increasing connectivity across trade, cargo and mobility,” the airline said.
The carrier added that the strategy also aligned with growing economic ties between the UAE and Africa, with increasing trade, investment and commercial partnerships across sectors including energy, infrastructure, mining and logistics.
Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive of Etihad Airways, said: “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.”
The airline’s new service from Abu Dhabi to Asmara, Eritrea, will operate four times per week when it launches on 7 November; the service to Accra will operate four times a week, launching on 17 March 2027; Kinshasa will launch three times per week from 18 March 2027; Lagos seven times per week from 18 March 2027 and Harare/Lubumbashi three times per week from 24 March 2027.
The carrier pointed out that the service would link in with its operations to China, which were recently expanded through a partnership with China Eastern.
