Etihad Airways has launched its first ever scheduled flights linking Abu Dhabi and Barcelona, Spain.

The inaugural flight, EY49, departed Abu Dhabi Wednesday morning with a special delegation including the media, influencers and senior members of Etihad Airways’ management team.

The new link will provide business and leisure travellers with convenient timings to travel between Abu Dhabi and Barcelona, also providing seamless onward connections through Abu Dhabi to major cities in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and Australia.

Etihad Airways operates an extensive codeshare partnership with Air Europa (UX) allowing guests a seamless transfer with the Spanish airline’s services between Barcelona and Madrid.

Etihad also codeshares with Air Europa beyond Madrid to 19 cities in Europe, South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Barcelona is the second city in Spain served by Etihad Airways, complementing the airline’s existing daily service to Madrid.

The new route will initially be operated five times a week by a two-class Airbus A330-200 before becoming a daily service from 31 March 2019.