Etihad Airways will operate its newly launched Gothenburg service year-round, upgrading a route announced only three weeks ago as a seasonal winter offering, the airline said Wednesday, citing exceptional booking demand.

The Abu Dhabi–Gothenburg service was originally set to run from December 17, 2026, to March 21, 2027. It will now continue beyond that winter window as a permanent part of Etihad's network.

The airline said demand has come from both directions of the route, with travellers in western Sweden booking onward connections to Abu Dhabi, the wider Gulf, Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, while guests across Etihad's network have booked trips to Sweden's west coast.

"Three weeks in, the market has told us we underestimated Gothenburg, and we are glad to be corrected," said Arik De, Etihad Airways' Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer. "The strength of demand this early gives us the confidence to make Gothenburg a year-round service before the first flight has even taken off."

"Western Sweden has been waiting for this connection, and the response has come from both ends of the route," he added.

Under the original schedule, the seasonal route would have ended before the Swedish summer. It will now run through the summer months as well, when the airline said Gothenburg offers long evenings, waterfront cafés and food markets, and an archipelago that is accessible from the city centre. From Abu Dhabi, the route also gives Swedish travellers access to Etihad's Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, which offers connecting passengers up to two complimentary hotel nights.

Gothenburg is the fifteenth new destination Etihad has launched in 2026, part of a year of network additions across Europe, Asia, and Africa, the airline said.

Mats Johannesson, CEO of Swedavia Airports, welcomed the extension. "When this route was announced last month, it was warmly received here, and to see it extended to a year-round schedule within three weeks says a great deal about the appetite in West Sweden for direct connections to Abu Dhabi and Etihad's global network," he said. "Travellers and companies in the region can already book and plan around this service in any season, and we look forward to welcoming the first flight in December."

The Abu Dhabi–Gothenburg service begins December 17, 2026 with four weekly flights operated by the Airbus A321LR, configured with two First Suites, 14 Business seats and 144 seats in Economy. First and Business feature fully flat beds with direct aisle access, while Economy is fitted with 13.3-inch touchscreens; high-speed Wi-Fi is available across all cabins. From Abu Dhabi, connections are available to destinations including Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Singapore, Hanoi, Bali, Shanghai, Taipei, Bengaluru and Colombo.

Bookings are open at etihad.com.

Source: PR