ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways is set to commence seasonal nonstop flights linking Abu Dhabi with Gothenburg beginning December 17, 2026. The service will run four times weekly until March 21, 2027. During the winter period, flights will connect Zayed International Airport with Göteborg Landvetter Airport. This marks the inaugural direct air route between Gothenburg and the United Arab Emirates and offers western Swedish travelers a nonstop connection to the UAE capital.
Connecting passengers via its main hub, the new Abu Dhabi-Gothenburg service integrates into Etihad’s broader network, enabling onward travel to destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. The airline lists Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Singapore, Hanoi, Bali, Shanghai, Taipei, Bengaluru, and Colombo as available connecting points. In the reverse direction, travelers will enjoy direct seasonal flights to Gothenburg and western Sweden. Ticket sales began when the route was announced in August 2026.
Etihad plans to operate the Gothenburg route using an Airbus A321LR with a capacity of 160 seats. The aircraft features two First Suites, 14 Business seats, and 144 Economy seats. The First and Business cabins include fully flat beds and direct aisle access, while Economy seats come equipped with 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems. High-speed Wi-Fi will be available throughout the aircraft. This configuration extends Etihad’s three-cabin service to its four-weekly flights between the UAE and Sweden.
Gothenburg Celebrates Its First Direct UAE Flight Link
Swedavia, the operator of Göteborg Landvetter Airport, confirmed that the seasonal service will launch in December with four flights each week. The company emphasized that this route establishes Gothenburg’s first direct air connection to the UAE. Swedavia CEO Mats Johannesson also highlighted enhanced links to the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. Serving Sweden’s second-largest city and the surrounding western region, Göteborg Landvetter Airport is a vital hub for industry, research, commerce, and international business along Sweden’s west coast.
The scheduled flights will facilitate onward connections from Abu Dhabi across Etihad’s extensive network. Qualified travelers can also participate in the Abu Dhabi Stopover program, which provides hotel stays of up to two nights in the UAE capital. For travelers originating in western Sweden, the route offers a direct connection to Abu Dhabi without the need for a European stop. The service will operate seasonally during the 2026-2027 winter schedule, as per the announced timetable.
Etihad’s Four-Weekly Service Will Run Using Airbus A321LR
Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves of Etihad emphasized the Airbus A321LR when the airline announced Gothenburg as a new destination, citing the city’s industrial and research strengths. The airline considers this its 15th new destination launch of 2026. The aircraft enables Etihad to offer First, Business, and Economy cabins on the route. The airline has scheduled the service to operate four days a week from its December launch through the last scheduled flight in March.
The final flight in the seasonal schedule will be on March 21, 2027. Until then, flights will provide direct scheduled service between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg throughout the winter period. Passengers can use these flights for travel between the two cities or for connecting flights via the UAE capital. Etihad maintains the Airbus A321LR as the aircraft type for this route. The launch date, four-weekly frequency, aircraft selection, and seasonal operation window remain as originally announced in August 2026, with no changes.