Etihad Airways announced on April 17 it will launch six new routes across Africa from Abu Dhabi, adding Accra in Ghana, Asmara in Eritrea, Harare in Zimbabwe, Kinshasa and Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Lagos in Nigeria to its network, AeroTime reported on April 21.
Services to Asmara will be the first to launch, with four weekly flights beginning on November 7, 2026. Four weekly flights to Accra and three weekly flights to Kinshasa will follow in March 2027. Lagos will receive a daily service from March 18, 2027, while a linked three-weekly service to Harare and Lubumbashi will begin on March 24, 2027. Business Traveller
Etihad Cargo, described as the largest freighter operator between China and the Middle East, will offer belly-hold capacity across all new services, with dedicated freight products tailored to the specific export and import profiles of each destination market.
The announcement follows Etihad’s separate disclosure that it will begin flying from Abu Dhabi to five Chinese cities — Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Shenzhen — and comes as the Abu Dhabi-based carrier looks to position the UAE capital as a primary gateway linking Africa, India and Asia, in line with deepening economic ties between the UAE and the continent across sectors including energy, infrastructure and logistics.
The new services will complement Etihad’s joint venture with Ethiopian Airlines, which recently marked 80 years of operations.
Asmara’s inclusion is notable given that international connectivity has been scarce in parts of the Horn of Africa, with the new service expected to open business and tourism links, particularly for travellers between Eritrea and Asia. Travel And Tour World
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said the expansion was a direct response to a structural supply gap. “Demand for air connectivity across key African markets is outpacing existing supply, particularly in cargo and trade-linked sectors,” he said. “By extending our network alongside our recent China expansion, we are enabling a more efficient corridor linking Africa, the Middle East and Asia through Abu Dhabi. For passengers, this creates simpler, faster journeys. For cargo, it provides more direct and reliable access between two regions where trade is growing rapidly.” — Etihad Airways press release, April 17, 2026