The recent proliferation of air routes between Spain and the Far East has continued, with the launch of Korean Air’s inaugural flight to Barcelona.

The national carrier touched down at the Catalan city for the first time on Friday evening, marking the start of a new thrice weekly non-stop service from Seoul’s Incheon International Airport.

The Barcelona flights, which will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, will complement Korean Air’s existing Seoul-Madrid route.

Previously under-served, air routes between the Iberian Peninsula and the Far East have taken off in recent years. As well as Iberia’s return to Asia, with new routes to Tokyo and Shanghai, airlines including Cathay Pacific, Air China, China Eastern and Beijing Capital Airlines have all introduced new services.

According to data from ForwardKeys, total international scheduled capacity between Asia and Spain increased 38% in 2016, and is expected to jump by a further 163% in the first half of 2017.