Etihad Airways will launch nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg on December 17, 2026, giving Sweden’s second city its first-ever direct link to the Middle East and Asia. Bookings opened on August 12, 2026.
The seasonal route runs four times a week through March 21, 2027, flown by Etihad’s three-cabin Airbus A321LR. It’s the airline’s fifteenth new destination of 2026, and the first time Gothenburg has had a one-stop connection to Asia on a single carrier.
Flight Schedule and Route Details
Etihad’s new service links Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Gothenburg Landvetter Airport (GOT) four days a week for the winter season.
- Season: December 17, 2026 to March 21, 2027
- Days: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
- EY175 (outbound): departs Abu Dhabi 02:50, arrives Gothenburg 07:25
- EY176 (return): departs Gothenburg 09:10, arrives Abu Dhabi 18:55
Both flights are timed for onward connections rather than a same-day turnaround, so factor in the early departure from Abu Dhabi if you’re connecting in from elsewhere on Etihad’s network.
Three Cabins on the Airbus A321LR
Etihad is flying the route with its long-range Airbus A321LR, fitted with all three of the airline’s cabins on a single-aisle jet for the first time on a Gothenburg service.
- First: 2 First Suites with fully flat beds and direct aisle access
- Business: 14 seats, also fully flat with direct aisle access
- Economy: 144 seats, each with a 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen
- All cabins: high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the aircraft
“The A321LR is the aircraft that makes a route like this possible, bringing our full three-cabin product on a scale that suits Gothenburg,” said Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves.
Swedavia CEO Mats Johannesson called it “the first direct connection between Gothenburg and the United Arab Emirates” in the airport operator’s own announcement. He added that companies across West Sweden do business throughout Asia and that many travellers have family and friends in the region, making the new link useful for both business and leisure travel.
Connecting Beyond Abu Dhabi: Asia, India and a Free Stopover
The evening arrival into Abu Dhabi is timed to line up with onward Etihad connections across Asia and the Indian subcontinent. From Abu Dhabi, Gothenburg travellers can reach:
Eligible passengers connecting through Abu Dhabi can add a complimentary hotel stay of up to two nights through Etihad’s stopover programme. If you’d rather explore Dubai instead, it’s about 45 minutes from Abu Dhabi by road.
Use the stopover to break up a long journey rather than rushing straight through. It’s a genuinely useful perk if you’re already flying economy on a long-haul itinerary to or from Southeast Asia.
Etihad Gothenburg sample fares
For a live snapshot, Wego’s fare data shows the following cheapest round-trip economy fares on Etihad this winter, for a Gothenburg departure on December 20, 2026, returning January 3, 2027:
Etihad Airways: cheapest return fare from Gothenburg
| Gothenburg to Abu Dhabi | $1,123 |
| Gothenburg to Singapore | $1,514 |
| Gothenburg to Colombo | $1,533 |
| Gothenburg to Bangkok | $1,736 |
| Gothenburg to Bali | $1,765 |
Source: Wego, live return economy fares on Etihad Airways sampled 13 August 2026, for departure 20 December 2026, returning 3 January 2027. Fares fluctuate and are shown per adult, all-in.
Because this is a new, seasonal route, availability on the four weekly flights may be tighter around the December launch and over the winter holidays. If you want to compare Etihad Airways fares against other carriers connecting Gothenburg to Abu Dhabi and beyond, Wego lets you search and compare flight prices across airlines for the same route.
Sources
- Etihad Airways — Hej Gothenburg: Etihad Airways Lands This December
- Swedavia — Etihad Airways Launches Service from Göteborg Landvetter Airport
- Zawya — Hej Gothenburg: Etihad Airways Lands This December (press release, full flight schedule)
- Arabian Business — Etihad Airways Announces New Abu Dhabi-Gothenburg Flights From December 2026
- TTN Worldwide — Etihad to Connect Abu Dhabi, Gothenburg From December
- CAPA — Etihad Airways to Launch Abu Dhabi-Gothenburg Service in Mid-Dec-2026
- Wego — Live Gothenburg to Abu Dhabi return fares (Etihad Airways)
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
