Abu Dhabi, April 3 (IANS/WAM): Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, has launched non-stop daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Washington, D.C., creating the first direct air link between the two capitals.

The new service to the Washington Dulles International Airport has been introduced to meet strong demand for government and business travel, as well as growing demand for leisure trips between and beyond the cities.

"Government and corporate customers in both markets have given us strong indication that the Abu Dhabi-Washington route can support a daily service from day one," said James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways.

There will be 3,360 seats per week.

Washington, D.C., is the fourth North American destination for Etihad Airways after New York, Chicago and Toronto. Till date, Etihad Airways has carried almost two million passengers between Abu Dhabi and North America.

Etihad Airways would serve the Abu Dhabi-Washington, D.C., route with ultra-long range Airbus A340-500 aircraft, seating 240 passengers in a spacious three-class cabin.