Middle East Airlines are Betting Big on African Aviation in 2026

During the summer of 2026, you might have noticed the numerous aviation agreements connecting the Middle East and North Africa with the wider African continent. The most recent of which was on 18 September 2026, in Luanda, where the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Angola signed a landmark open-skies Air Transport Agreement. 

This treaty abolishes restrictive frequency caps, granting unlimited direct flights and codeshare permissions between the two nations. Highlighting the benefits, Oman CAA President H.E. Eng. Naif bin Ali Al-Abri stated, “Air transport agreements represent one of the key enablers for the growth of the civil aviation sector and support its openness to new markets and destinations. This strengthens its role in supporting tourism, trade and investment flows, while advancing the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy 2040.”

Summer 2026 Airline Pacts

Moving back through the summer timeline, August 2026 saw Dubai-based Emirates strengthen its historical presence in Southern Africa. On 5 August 2026, Emirates and South African Airways expanded their 30-year partnership, signed in 1997, into a reciprocal codeshare. This regulatory upgrade immediately added nine SAA-operated routes out of Johannesburg to the Emirates network, utilising the Gulf carrier’s capacity of 56 weekly flights to South Africa using B777, A380, and A350 aircraft.

Before that, in July 2026, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways executed a three-part plan. This culminated on 24 July 2026 with an MoU signed with Ghana-based Africa World Airlines, covering codeshares, cargo, and loyalty alignment. 

Just days earlier, on 22 July 2026, Etihad signed an interline agreement with Nigeria’s Air Peace, opening single-ticket access across 20 West and Central African cities via Lagos and Accra. To ensure premium harmonisation, the carriers standardised baggage options starting at AED 185 for two bags, offered complimentary for First Deluxe and Residence guests. Air Peace CCO Nowel Ngala commented, “Air Peace has always been about opening doors for Nigerian and West African travellers. Working with Etihad Airways extends that ambition, giving our customers convenient access to Abu Dhabi on Etihad’s services once the new routes begin, while bringing Etihad’s guests to the many destinations we serve across the region.”

Rounding out its July African agreements, Etihad also secured an interline deal with Zimbabwe’s Fastjet for Southern Africa connectivity. Etihad secured three agreements in July, each shaped to its market.

New Open-Skies Frameworks

The legal basis for much of this commercial expansion in West Africa was laid on 1 July 2026, when Ghana’s Parliament ratified Bilateral Air Services Agreements with six nations, two of which were MENA countries: Saudi Arabia and Qatar. These frameworks ensure compliance, resolve disputes, and protect flight operations financially against anti-competitive practices.

To understand these new Gulf-African alliances, one must acknowledge the traditional role of North African carriers, like EgyptAir and Royal Air Maroc, which have long bridged the Arab world and Sub-Saharan Africa. To strengthen its role as a continental hub, Morocco signed 19 bilateral aviation agreements in April 2026 to expand traffic rights and integrate into the broader African air network. These agreements aim to improve regional mobility, solidify Morocco’s position in African air travel, and support the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

Industry leaders discussed these rapid changes at recent events like the Aviation Africa Summit in Nairobi (9–10 September 2026) and the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai (14–17 September 2026). Rather than waiting for full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), Middle Eastern airlines are partnering directly with local carriers and expanding interline agreements to improve connection routes and capture “last-mile” connectivity.

This Arab-African partnership comes at a decisive moment for continental transport. The African Airlines Association’s (AFRAA) August 2026 report shows strong growth across the continent: overall seat capacity rose by 8.8% year-on-year, intra-African capacity grew by 10.5%, while IATA data shows air cargo capacity increased by 14% in August under the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Funding African Infrastructure

While airline partnerships offer quick market growth, long-term success requires enabling investment in Africa’s Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) and infrastructure, which could unlock future opportunities. To support a regional fleet expected to double by 2045, AFRAA estimates Africa needs USD 140bn in MRO investments and 75,000 new aviation workers. Consequently, Middle Eastern entities are investing heavily in African aviation infrastructure alongside network expansions.

The most notable MENA infrastructure project is the new Bugesera International Airport, a USD 2bn project near Kigali, Rwanda. In January 2026, the Qatar Investment Authority bought a 60% stake for USD 578m and committed another USD 1.1bn to finish construction. Scheduled to open in 2027, the airport is expected to handle 7m passengers a year, expanding to 14m by 2032.

Alongside initiatives like the African Development Bank’s EUR 270m funding to expand Morocco’s airports, these investments position MENA entities to shape the continent’s aviation future beyond ticket sales.

Overall, 2026 demonstrated that Middle Eastern airlines are significant drivers of air connectivity to Africa. As Africa’s travel demand and supply chains grow, MENA carriers are using infrastructure investments and commercial partnerships to build a central role in the continent’s aviation future, with the Arab-African aviation corridor becoming the frontier for the next decade of global air transport.