Etihad Airways Launches New Seasonal Gothenburg–Abu Dhabi Route, Opening a Direct Gateway from Sweden to the Middle East and Asia

Gothenburg, Sweden by Valentino Casavecchia

Etihad Airways is adding a new route to its expanding network this winter, launching a seasonal service between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg from 17 December 2026.

Operating four times a week until 21 March 2027, the new route will give Gothenburg its first direct air connection with the Middle East, while opening a streamlined gateway to destinations across India and Asia via Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub.

For travellers heading east, Abu Dhabi offers plenty of reason to linger rather than simply connect. The UAE capital balances contemporary culture with wide-open landscapes and Gulf beaches: kayak through the mangroves of Jubail, explore the museums of the Saadiyat Cultural District, visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque or spend a day on Yas Island. Etihad’s complimentary Abu Dhabi Stopover programme also allows eligible connecting passengers to add up to two nights in a hotel, making it possible to turn a transit into a short city break.

And for those tempted by a second stop, Dubai is less than an hour away by road.

From Gothenburg, the new evening arrival into Abu Dhabi is timed to connect with Etihad’s wider Asian network, including Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Singapore, Hanoi, Bali, Shanghai, Taipei, Bengaluru and Colombo.

Gothenburg becomes Etihad’s 15th new destination of 2026, with the route operated by the airline’s Airbus A321LR. The aircraft brings a surprisingly comprehensive long-haul experience to the route, with two First Suites, 14 Business seats and 144 Economy seats. First and Business offer fully flat beds and direct aisle access, while Economy comes with ergonomic seating and 13.3-inch 4K entertainment screens. Wi-Fi is available throughout the aircraft.

“Gothenburg is a city Scandinavia is rightly proud of, a centre of industry and research with an archipelago at its door,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer. “This new service gives the region its first direct air link to Asia and, through Abu Dhabi, some of the fastest connections to key destinations across India and Asia.”

The journey works just as well in reverse. Sweden’s second city is one of the country’s most appealing urban escapes, where the Göta River meets the sea and the city gives way almost immediately to an archipelago of rocky islands. In Gothenburg itself, there are seafood markets to explore, the historic wooden streets of Haga to wander and Liseberg, whose festive lights make the city particularly atmospheric in winter.

For West Sweden, the new route also carries significance beyond leisure travel. Mats Johannesson, CEO of Swedavia Airports, described it as an important boost to the region’s links with the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia, noting the strong business, family and cultural connections between West Sweden and Asia.

The seasonal service begins on 17 December 2026, with bookings now open through Etihad Airways.