Etihad Airways will operate its new Abu Dhabi–Gothenburg service year-round with four weekly flights on the Airbus A321LR, reversing an earlier plan for a seasonal winter route before the first departure. The carrier moved to a permanent schedule after bookings opened more than three weeks ahead of launch and early demand outpaced expectations, with the service due to start on 17 December.
The route was first framed as a winter-only link running until March 2027, but the revised plan gives western Sweden direct long-haul access to Abu Dhabi and onward connections across the Gulf, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Gothenburg becomes a new Scandinavian destination in Etihad’s network, while the airline expands its reach beyond larger Nordic hubs into a market it judged to be stronger than initially expected. The demand has come from both western Sweden and Etihad’s wider global network, according to the carrier’s chief revenue and commercial officer, Arik De. Swedavia, which operates Göteborg Landvetter Airport, has also backed the service as part of the airport’s international growth.