By Zobia Zulfqar 
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has announced plans to commence four weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Accra from March 17, 2027, as part of its strategic expansion into Africa.
The new service will establish a direct connection between Ghana and Abu Dhabi, providing passengers with access to Etihad Airways’ wider international network.
The airline will operate the Abu Dhabi-Accra route using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Through connections at Abu Dhabi, passengers will be able to reach more than 120 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and North America.
The planned flights represent Etihad Airways’ entry into the Ghanaian market and are expected to strengthen air connectivity between Ghana, the UAE and other international destinations.
The announcement followed the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) between Etihad Airways and Total Air Alliance Limited (TAAL), a member of the GHI Assets Group, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra.
Under the agreement, Total Air Alliance Limited has been formally appointed as Etihad Airways’ General Sales Agent (GSA) in Ghana.
The appointment is intended to support Etihad’s entry into the Ghanaian aviation market and establish its commercial presence ahead of the launch of the new service.
Representing Etihad Airways at the signing ceremony were Mr Javier Alija, Vice President for Global Sales and Distribution, and Mr Khaleefa Mohamed Al Hammadi, Regional General Manager for Sales, Digital and Distribution.
The launch is expected to provide travellers from Ghana with greater access to international destinations through Etihad’s hub in Abu Dhabi.
Wider international connections
Abu Dhabi serves as an important connecting point within Etihad Airways’ global network. Passengers travelling from Accra will be able to connect through the UAE capital to destinations across several regions.
The new service is therefore expected to provide additional travel options for passengers travelling for business, tourism, education and other purposes.
For travellers heading to Europe and Asia, the Abu Dhabi connection could offer an alternative route to existing services from Ghana. The airline’s network also covers destinations in Australia, North America, Africa and the Middle East.
The use of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will also give the new route a long-haul aircraft capable of supporting international operations between the two cities.
Etihad’s expansion into Ghana
The planned Accra service forms part of Etihad Airways’ broader strategy to expand its presence across Africa.
The Ghanaian market offers the airline an opportunity to strengthen its connections with West Africa while giving passengers in the region access to its international network through Abu Dhabi.
For Ghana, the arrival of another major international carrier could increase options for passengers travelling between the country and the Middle East.
It could also support stronger links between Ghana and the UAE, where commercial, investment and tourism relationships have continued to develop.
The appointment of Total Air Alliance Limited as the airline’s General Sales Agent is an important step toward establishing the necessary commercial and distribution arrangements before operations begin.
The company will serve as Etihad Airways’ representative in Ghana as the airline prepares for the launch of its scheduled flights.
Four weekly services
Etihad Airways is scheduled to operate four flights each week between Abu Dhabi and Accra beginning March 17, 2027.
The service will give passengers travelling from Ghana the opportunity to connect through Abu Dhabi to a broad range of destinations served by the airline.
The planned operation also creates additional opportunities for travellers from the UAE and other parts of Etihad’s network to reach Ghana.
The new route is expected to contribute to Ghana’s aviation connectivity by linking Accra more closely with a major international aviation hub.
For businesses, improved air links could support travel between Ghana and international markets, particularly for companies involved in trade, investment and tourism.
The service could also benefit Ghana’s tourism sector by making the country more accessible to visitors travelling through Abu Dhabi and Etihad’s wider network.
With the March 2027 launch date approaching, preparations will continue to support the airline’s entry into the Ghanaian market.
The four-weekly service is expected to become an important addition to Ghana’s international air connectivity, providing passengers with new travel options and access to more than 120 destinations through Abu Dhabi.