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ABU DHABI / WAM
Etihad Airways’ first-ever scheduled flight, EY49, linking Abu Dhabi and Barcelona, departed from Abu Dhabi on Wednesday morning carrying a special delegation including dignitaries, media representatives, influencers and senior members of Etihad Airways’ management team.
The UAE national airline is celebrating the occasion in style by hosting a special event held at the historic Capella dels Angels, a sixteenth-century Gothic building which is now part of the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona, MACBA, attended by leading figures from the local government, diplomats, media, corporate partners and travel trade.
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer Etihad Aviation Group, said, “We have been tremendously excited about the launch of this service and what better time to arrive here than the month Etihad celebrates its 15th anniversary.”
The new route will initially be operated five times a week by a two-class Airbus A330-200 before becoming a daily operation from March 31, 2019.
Apart from the daily service to Madrid, Barcelona is the second Spanish city served by Etihad Airways. The new link will also provide 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 to use 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.