Good news for New Zealanders, who will now be able to choose between two gateways into Spain when the Emirates airlines introduces direct services to Barcelona from July 3 2012, after doubling frequencies to Madrid from July 1.

The airline is boosting to its services in Spain on the heels of mounting demand for its Madrid service, launched in August 2010.

Its no surprise Barcelona is so popular with the people of New Zealand. Not only does it offer a wealth of gothic and art nouveau architecture, art galleries, world class restaurants, wineries, sandy beaches and the Montserrat mountain range, it also offers exactly the kind of outdoors lifestyle and sunshine that makes life in New Zealand so enjoyable.

The European Cities Monitor 2011 named Barcelona as the top European city for employees’ quality of living and the 6th most attractive city in Europe to do business, so the new flight route also has significant business implications for trade between the two countries.