ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways will launch seasonal nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg on December 17, 2026. The service will operate four times a week through March 21, 2027. The route will connect the UAE capital with Sweden’s second largest city during the winter travel period. Bookings for the new Abu Dhabi to Gothenburg flights are already available. The service will operate between Zayed International Airport and Göteborg Landvetter Airport.
The route will give Gothenburg its first direct air connection with the United Arab Emirates. It will also create the city’s first nonstop link to the Middle East and Asia. Passengers from western Sweden can connect through Abu Dhabi to destinations across India and Asia. The new service also provides direct access to Abu Dhabi for travelers departing from the Gothenburg region. Göteborg Landvetter Airport serves Gothenburg and the wider western Sweden market.
Etihad Airways will operate the route with an Airbus A321LR configured for 160 passengers. The aircraft has two First Suites, 14 Business seats and 144 Economy seats. First and Business seats convert into fully flat beds and provide direct aisle access. Economy seats include 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems. The aircraft offers high-speed Wi-Fi across all three cabins. The A321LR joined the carrier’s fleet as a long-range narrow-body aircraft.
New route expands one-stop access across Asia
The Gothenburg schedule will connect with several onward services through Abu Dhabi. Listed connections include Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Singapore, Hanoi, Bali, Shanghai, Taipei, Bengaluru and Colombo. The airline schedules the Gothenburg arrival in Abu Dhabi during the evening. Passengers can then use the carrier’s wider network from its home hub. Eligible connecting travelers can also use the Abu Dhabi Stopover program, which offers hotel stays of up to two nights.
The carrier counts Gothenburg as its 15th new destination launch of 2026. Gothenburg sits on Sweden’s west coast and has major industrial, research and commercial activity. The city also serves as a gateway to the surrounding region and nearby archipelago. Swedavia, which operates Göteborg Landvetter Airport, has highlighted travel links between western Sweden and Asian markets. The airport operator also cited demand involving business travel and people visiting relatives and friends.
Airbus A321LR will serve four weekly flights
Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves said the A321LR allows the airline to offer its three-cabin product on the Gothenburg route. He also identified industry and research as important features of the Swedish city. Swedavia Chief Executive Mats Johannesson said the new service will improve regional connectivity with the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia. He described the route as the first direct connection between Gothenburg and the UAE. Both executives confirmed the service as part of the August 12 announcement.
The seasonal operation will remain scheduled for four weekly flights throughout its announced winter period. Its final scheduled date is March 21, 2027. The route adds a direct Sweden-UAE connection while giving Gothenburg passengers access to Abu Dhabi and connecting destinations. Travelers from the UAE will gain a nonstop option to western Sweden during the operating season. The published schedule, aircraft type and operating period remain unchanged following the route announcement on August 12, 2026.