Nashville is getting a nonstop flight to London beginning in May 2018, officials announced Tuesday.
In a press conference, Governor Bill Haslam said British Airways is launching direct flights five days a week from Nashville International Airport and London Heathrow.
The 214-seat flight will depart London Heathrow at 3:45 p.m., putting it into Nashville at 6:50 p.m. local time. The outbound flight from Nashville will be scheduled to leave at 8:20 p.m., arriving in London the next day at 10:30 a.m.
It's been a project in the works for two years.
The state is providing $1.5 million in incentives to British Airways to support the launch of the international flight, while the city government will provide a "stop-gap" of up to $500,000 to cover potential losses by the airline.
Haslam said it's proof not only Nashville, but the state is growing and will help strengthen relationships in Europe.
"We will outperform projections because there are a lot of companies that I think are going to use this flight to connect, not just to Nashville, but we already know companies that are looking at other parts of Tennessee," he said.
Nashville's last had a nonstop London flight 30 years ago, when the airport was a hub for American Airlines.
