easyJet has inaugurated its 28th base across its European network.

With three Airbus A320 based in the city, the airline will be able to offer an enhanced product with more destinations and choice for the three million passengers flying with easyJet to and from Barcelona Airport each year.

The base was opened by Javier Gandara, easyJet country director for Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands, who celebrated this important milestone for the airline with a ceremony attended by Fernando Echegaray, director of Spanish Airport Network and Sonia Corrochano, El Prat Airport chief executive.

The opening of the base in Barcelona, announced in June 2015, consolidates easyJet’s commitment in Barcelona that begun 20 years ago with the landing of the first flight from Barcelona-London Luton.

It is a natural step moving forward for easyJet to base its operations in Barcelona, a key business and leisure centre in Europe.

Spain is an important market for easyJet where it expects to carry 13.6 million passengers in 2016, an increase of four per cent year over year.

In Barcelona, easyJet builds on solid foundations.

It started operating in June 1996 with London Luton–Barcelona and as a long-term strategic committed partner; it has regularly invested to carry 3.1 million passengers in 2016, an increase of seven per cent compared to the previous year.

Gandara commented: “We are very pleased to be here today to announce the opening of our base, number 28 in Europe.

“This new step forward will allow easyJet to expand the range and frequency of our flights to and from Barcelona, as well contribute further to the local economy by generating 120 direct new jobs.

“At easyJet we are constantly working to improve our product and the satisfaction of our customers. We believe this operational base in Barcelona with three aircraft will contribute strongly to strengthen our pan-European network and reinforce Barcelona’s position as a vital hub in the international air and tourist map.”