New seasonal flights will connect Abu Dhabi directly with Gothenburg from December. The Gothenburg route will mark western Sweden’s first direct air link with the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, Etihad describes this as Gothenburg’s inaugural nonstop connection with the Middle East and Asia. Travelers will have the option to connect through Abu Dhabi to numerous destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. The airline’s listed onward flights include Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Singapore, Hanoi, Bali, Shanghai, Taipei, Bengaluru, and Colombo. For UAE residents, this route also offers direct access to western Sweden. The airline plans to operate these flights using an Airbus A321LR, which can seat up to 160 passengers. The aircraft’s cabin configuration comprises two First Suites, 14 Business seats, and 144 Economy seats. The First and Business Class seats convert into fully flat beds and provide direct aisle access. Economy travelers benefit from 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems, and high-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the aircraft. The long-range narrow-body aircraft enables Etihad to offer three cabin classes on the Gothenburg route. Enhanced international connectivity for Gothenburg through direct service This schedule allows passengers arriving in Abu Dhabi to access Etihad’s extensive connecting network. Eligible travelers can also take advantage of the carrier’s Abu Dhabi Stopover program, which offers qualifying guests hotel stays of up to two nights in the UAE capital. For

South Korea registered a tourism surplus of $596.6 million in June 2026, marking its most robust monthly result since the COVID-19 crisis. This figure reflects an improvement of approximately $1.44 billion compared to June 2025, when the nation experienced an $846.8 million deficit. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization indicated that June’s surplus was the second-highest ever recorded, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.

Temporary border inspections have been introduced by Spain for travelers arriving from Italy via air and sea routes. Starting at midnight on Aug. 8, these measures are expected to last until Sept. 7. Authorities are now verifying travel and immigration documents on routes that usually operate without routine internal border checks. This step follows Italy’s earlier decision to re-establish controls on specific passengers arriving from Spain. Travelers from Italy face temporary passport checks at Spanish airports and seaports. During the first day of enforcement, Spain’s Interior Ministry reported that 199 passengers traveling on 12 flights from Italy underwent checks. The controls were conducted at airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia. The process involved verifying passports, nationality, and visa status where relevant. Despite the temporary controls, flights and maritime services between Spain and Italy continue to operate normally. Italy implemented its own temporary border controls on Aug. 1, following a significant influx of migrants into Ceuta from Morocco. The Italian authorities applied these checks to non-EU nationals arriving by air or sea from Spain. Citizens of Italy, Spain, and other EU countries were not subject to these restrictions. Italy announced that its controls would remain in place through Sept. 1, according to the current schedule. Ceuta arrivals came ahead of border control measures Approximately 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta during the large surge from Morocco that began in late July. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that by Aug.