Ethiopian Airlines' Fifth-Freedom Route from Oslo to Stockholm Faces Cabin Issues and Border Headaches

On August 19, 2026, I boarded Ethiopian Airlines flight ET715 from Oslo Airport (OSL) to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN). The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operated by ET-ARF, was a widebody plane continuing on to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD), but I disembarked in Stockholm. This unusual fifth-freedom route allows Ethiopian Airlines to sell seats between Norway and Sweden before the aircraft continues to its hub in Ethiopia.

The flight departed from gate F31, which is located beyond the Schengen passport-control point at OSL. Passengers booking only Oslo, Stockholm should allow time for border formalities, as it's not immediately intuitive that this route involves non-Schengen departures. I arrived at the gate about 30 minutes before departure after officers processed passengers manually at passport control.

The Boeing 787-8 cabin was visibly worn and poorly presented, with a partially detached inflight-entertainment screen and dirty interior. The seatback in front of me was fully reclined, but I couldn't return it to the upright position. Despite these issues, the aircraft's large windows and pressurization at a lower equivalent cabin altitude were welcome features.

The Oslo, Stockholm sector was lightly loaded, with many seats empty. No inflight service was offered on this short sector, which I found reasonable given the 45-minute flight time. After an extended taxi, ET715 reached gate F59 in Terminal 5 at Arlanda. Because I had passed through the non-Schengen zone in Oslo, I went through passport control again on arrival in Stockholm.

My experience showed how a missing digital crossing can follow a traveler through later checks, as a missing EES exit record from my previous trip to London caused repeated explanations and delays at border crossings. This issue highlights the challenges with the European Commission's Entry/Exit System, which electronically records entries and exits for eligible non-EU nationals making short stays.