ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways will launch seasonal nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg on December 17, 2026. The route will operate four times a week through March 21, 2027. Flights will link Zayed International Airport with Göteborg Landvetter Airport during the winter season. The service creates the first direct air connection between Gothenburg and the United Arab Emirates. It also gives travelers in western Sweden a nonstop option to the UAE capital.
The new Abu Dhabi-Gothenburg service will connect passengers with Etihad’s wider network through its home hub. Travelers can continue to destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia. The airline lists Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Singapore, Hanoi, Bali, Shanghai, Taipei, Bengaluru and Colombo among the available connections. Passengers traveling in the opposite direction will gain direct seasonal access to Gothenburg and western Sweden. Bookings opened when the airline announced the route in August 2026.
Etihad plans to use an Airbus A321LR with 160 seats on the Gothenburg route. The aircraft has two First Suites, 14 Business seats and 144 Economy seats. First and Business seats convert into fully flat beds and include direct aisle access. Economy seats feature 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems. The aircraft also offers high-speed Wi-Fi across all cabins. The configuration brings the airline’s three-cabin product to the four-weekly service between the UAE and Sweden.
Gothenburg gains first direct UAE air connection
Swedavia, the operator of Göteborg Landvetter Airport, confirmed the December launch and four-flight weekly schedule. The company said the route marks Gothenburg’s first direct connection with the UAE. Swedavia Chief Executive Mats Johannesson also pointed to improved links with the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia. Göteborg Landvetter Airport serves Sweden’s second largest city and the surrounding western region. Gothenburg is a major center for industry, research, commerce and international business on Sweden’s west coast.
The schedule gives passengers arriving in Abu Dhabi access to onward flights across Etihad’s network. Eligible connecting travelers can also use the Abu Dhabi Stopover program. The program offers qualifying passengers hotel stays of up to two nights in the UAE capital. For travelers starting in western Sweden, the route provides direct access to Abu Dhabi without a European flight connection. The service will remain seasonal under the timetable announced for the 2026-2027 winter operating period.
Airbus A321LR will operate the four-weekly route
Etihad Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves highlighted the Airbus A321LR when the airline announced Gothenburg as a new destination. He also noted the Swedish city’s industrial and research base. The carrier lists Gothenburg as its 15th new destination launch of 2026. The aircraft allows Etihad to offer First, Business and Economy cabins on the route. The airline has scheduled the service for four days each week from its December opening through the final operating date in March.
The final scheduled flight under the seasonal program falls on March 21, 2027. Until then, the route will provide direct scheduled service between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg throughout the announced winter period. Travelers can use the flights for journeys between the two cities or for connections through the UAE capital. Etihad continues to list the Airbus A321LR for the service. The launch date, four-weekly frequency, aircraft type and seasonal operating window remain unchanged from the confirmed August 2026 announcement.