ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways is set to begin seasonal nonstop services linking Abu Dhabi with Gothenburg starting on December 17, 2026. The route will operate four times per week until March 21, 2027. During the winter months, flights will connect Zayed International Airport with Göteborg Landvetter Airport. This marks the first direct air link between Gothenburg and the United Arab Emirates and provides western Sweden travelers with a nonstop option to the UAE capital.
The new Abu Dhabi-Gothenburg route will integrate passengers into Etihad’s extensive network via its main hub. From there, travelers can reach destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. The airline includes Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Singapore, Hanoi, Bali, Shanghai, Taipei, Bengaluru, and Colombo among its connection options. Conversely, those traveling from the east will have direct seasonal access to Gothenburg and western Sweden. Ticket sales began when the airline announced the route in August 2026.
Etihad plans to operate the Gothenburg service with an Airbus A321LR equipped with 160 seats. The aircraft configuration features two First Suites, 14 Business class seats, and 144 Economy seats. Both First and Business cabins convert into fully flat beds and offer direct aisle access, while Economy seats come with 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems. High-speed Wi-Fi will be available across all cabins. This configuration expands the airline’s three-cabin service to include four weekly flights between the UAE and Sweden.
Gothenburg gains its inaugural direct UAE flight connection
Swedavia, which operates Göteborg Landvetter Airport, confirmed the December launch and the four-flights-per-week schedule. The company highlighted that this route establishes Gothenburg’s first direct link with the UAE. Swedavia CEO Mats Johannesson also emphasized that the new service enhances connectivity with the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. Göteborg Landvetter Airport serves Sweden’s second-largest city and its surrounding western region, a hub for industry, research, commerce, and international business on Sweden’s west coast.
The flight schedule allows arriving passengers in Abu Dhabi to connect to Etihad’s broader network. Eligible travelers can also participate in the Abu Dhabi Stopover program, which offers hotel stays of up to two nights in the UAE capital. For those starting from western Sweden, the route provides a direct flight to Abu Dhabi without the need for European connections. The service will remain seasonal during the winter operating period for 2026-2027, as per the announced timetable.
The Airbus A321LR will operate the four-weekly service
When announcing Gothenburg as a new destination, Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves highlighted the Airbus A321LR’s capabilities and noted Gothenburg’s strong industrial and research presence. The airline marks this as its 15th new destination launch of 2026. The aircraft enables Etihad to provide First, Business, and Economy cabins on the route. The scheduled service will run four times each week from December until the final flight in March.
The seasonal service’s last scheduled flight is on March 21, 2027. Until then, the route will offer direct scheduled flights between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg during the winter period. Passengers can travel directly or connect through the UAE capital. Etihad continues to specify the Airbus A321LR as the aircraft for this route, with no change in the launch date, frequency, aircraft type, or seasonal schedule from the initial August 2026 announcement.