UAE-Sweden travel: Etihad unveils new winter flights from Abu Dhabi to Gothenburg
Airbus A321LR will operate the seasonal service through March
ABU DHABI – Etihad Airways is set to strengthen its presence in Scandinavia with a new seasonal service linking Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg from December.
The UAE national airline will operate four flights a week between the two cities from 17 December 2026 until 21 March 2027. The new route will establish Gothenburg’s first direct air connection with the Middle East and Asia.
The service will connect Sweden’s west coast directly with Abu Dhabi, while also offering convenient one-stop journeys to destinations across India and Asia through Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub. The airline said the route is expected to provide some of the fastest connections from the region to key destinations across the two markets.
UAE-Sweden travel
For Gothenburg travellers, the evening arrival in Abu Dhabi will provide onward connections to destinations including Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Singapore, Hanoi, Bali, Shanghai, Taipei, Bengaluru and Colombo.
The new service also puts Abu Dhabi within easy reach for Swedish visitors. The capital offers attractions ranging from the mangroves of Jubail and the museums of the Saadiyat Cultural District to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Arabian Gulf beaches and Yas Island.
Eligible passengers connecting through Abu Dhabi can also make use of Etihad’s complimentary Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, which allows qualifying guests to add a hotel stay of up to two nights before continuing their journey. Dubai is around 45 minutes from Abu Dhabi, offering travellers access to another major UAE destination during their visit.
A321LR service
Gothenburg will become the 15th new destination launched by Etihad in 2026. The seasonal route will be operated by the airline’s Airbus A321LR, its newest aircraft, configured with two First Suites, 14 Business seats and 144 Economy seats.
The aircraft brings Etihad’s three-cabin offering to the route. First and Business passengers will have access to fully flat beds and direct aisle access, while Economy passengers will travel in ergonomic seats equipped with 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen displays. The in-flight entertainment system offers hundreds of hours of films, television and music on demand, while high-speed Wi-Fi is available across all cabins.
The route will also provide a direct link between Abu Dhabi and Sweden’s second-largest city. Gothenburg is located where the Göta River meets the sea and is known for its nearby archipelago, seafood markets, Liseberg’s Christmas lights and the wooden streets of the Haga district.
Etihad Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves said the A321LR makes the service possible while allowing the airline to offer its full three-cabin product on a route suited to Gothenburg. Swedavia Airports CEO Mats Johannesson said the connection would strengthen links for West Sweden, particularly with the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia.
Bookings for the new seasonal service are now available through official website.