ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways will open a seasonal nonstop route between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg on December 17, 2026. The service will run four times each week until March 21, 2027. Flights will connect Zayed International Airport with Göteborg Landvetter Airport during the winter travel season. The new service adds a direct link between the UAE capital and Sweden’s second largest city. Tickets are already available through the airline’s booking channels.
The Gothenburg service will give western Sweden its first direct air connection with the United Arab Emirates. Etihad also describes the route as Gothenburg’s first nonstop link with the Middle East and Asia. Travelers can connect through Abu Dhabi to cities across South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia. Listed onward destinations include Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Singapore, Hanoi, Bali, Shanghai, Taipei, Bengaluru and Colombo. The route also provides UAE travelers with direct access to western Sweden.
Etihad will operate the flights with an Airbus A321LR carrying up to 160 passengers. The cabin includes two First Suites, 14 Business seats and 144 Economy seats. First and Business seats convert into fully flat beds and offer direct aisle access. Economy passengers receive 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems. High-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the aircraft. The long-range narrow-body jet allows the airline to offer three cabin classes on the Gothenburg route.
Direct service strengthens Gothenburg’s international air links
The schedule brings passengers into Abu Dhabi with access to Etihad’s wider connecting network. Eligible travelers can also use the carrier’s Abu Dhabi Stopover program. The program provides qualifying passengers with hotel stays of up to two nights in the UAE capital. For Gothenburg-area travelers, the new route reduces the need to change aircraft elsewhere in Europe before reaching Abu Dhabi. It also creates a direct seasonal option for passengers traveling between western Sweden and the UAE.
Swedavia, which operates Göteborg Landvetter Airport, confirmed the four-weekly schedule and December launch. The airport company described the service as Gothenburg’s first direct connection with the UAE. Swedavia Chief Executive Mats Johannesson also cited improved links with the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia. Gothenburg is a major center for industry, research and commerce on Sweden’s west coast. Its airport serves the city and a wider regional market across western Sweden.
A321LR brings three-cabin service to Sweden’s west coast
Etihad Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves highlighted the A321LR’s three-cabin configuration when announcing the route. He also pointed to Gothenburg’s industrial and research base as features of the destination. The carrier lists Gothenburg as its 15th new destination launch of 2026. The seasonal service will operate throughout the announced winter period on four days each week. Its final scheduled operating date remains March 21, 2027, under the timetable released with the route announcement.
The Abu Dhabi-Gothenburg service adds another nonstop connection to Etihad’s network from its home hub. For Gothenburg, the route establishes direct scheduled access to Abu Dhabi for the first time. Passengers can use the service for point-to-point journeys or onward connections through the UAE capital. The airline continues to list the Airbus A321LR for the route, with First, Business and Economy cabins. The published launch date, frequency and seasonal operating period remain unchanged from the August 2026 announcement.