Iran-Spain launch direct flight

The Mahan Air flight took off at 6:55am local time (3:25 GMT) from Tehran and landed in Barcelona at 9:45 local time (8:45 am GMT), said a report by the airline's public relations office.

It added that Tehran-Barcelona flights would be made on Sundays and Thursdays with an Airbus A340 aircraft.

The direct flight shortens the trip time to 6 hours while it has previously taken 12 to 15 hours before. 

Upon its arrival to the airport in Barcelona, the flight was welcomed by Iranian Ambassador to Spain Mohammad Hassan Fadaee-Fard, representative of the Spanish government Emilio Ablanedo Reyes, local authorities, and a number of Mahan Air officials.

Fadaee-Fard hoped that direct flights between the Iranian and Spanish capitals will begin in the near future. 

Meanwhile, Reyes said that Madrid is after expanding ties with Tehran and that the Spanish government has no limit for ties with Iran, especially in economic fields.

Another speaker of the ceremony was the Spanish ambassador in Tehran who referred to Tehran-Madrid growing relations and stressed that the direct flight will facilitate expanding bilateral relations more than before.