Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, started daily operations between Jaipur and Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

A traditional lamp lighting ceremony greeted the disembarking passengers at Jaipur to celebrate the new service and the airline's 10th destination in India, Etihad said in a statement.

"The addition of the Jaipur service reinforces Etihad Airways' commitment to the Indian subcontinent. We are confident that the new flights will continue the strong passenger growth between India and the UAE," said Craig Thomas, Etihad Airways' regional general manager for Asia Pacific (north) and Indian subcontinent.

"The new service will provide travellers from Jaipur with seamless connections to the Gulf region and Middle East, as well as Africa, Europe and North America, via our Abu Dhabi hub."

"Jaipur is the perfect addition to our growing network of destinations. Jaipur is a widely recognised premium destination attracting leisure and business travellers from around the world," said Neerja Bhatia, general manager for India.

"It is also known for hosting many international cultural events, including the renowned Jaipur Literature Festival."