Etihad Airways has announced the introduction of a new scheduled service linking Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, and Barcelona, Spain.

The flight will take off from November 21st.

The route will initially be operated five times a week by a two-class Airbus A330-200 before becoming a daily operation from March next year.

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

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 around the world.

Peter Baumgartner, chief executive, Etihad Airways, said: “As one of the largest unserved markets from our Abu Dhabi base, Barcelona - a hub of culture, commerce, tourism, education, fashion and science - has witnessed a significant increase in travel demand from the emirate, and from across our wider network.

“We are now delighted to announce the first direct link between these two important global hubs.

“We are confident it will prove very popular with UAE and Barcelona-based customers, allowing us to extend our acclaimed inflight service, hospitality and flair to this vibrant Mediterranean city, and to build on the flourishing cultural and commercial ties between the UAE and Spain.”

The Catalonia region is immensely popular with business and leisure travellers alike.

With 7.5 million inhabitants, beautiful mountain scenery and a 214 kilometre Mediterranean coastline, the region is rich in natural parks and protected areas.

Barcelona is one of the world’s most visited cities, famed for its unique culture, Gaudi architecture, history and cosmopolitan lifestyle.

Trade between the UAE and the Catalonia region has enjoyed significant growth in recent years, with food, chemicals, motor vehicles, energy and pharmaceuticals being the main industrial sectors.