NEW ORLEANS - Non-stop flights from Louisiana to London will begin by the end of the first quarter of 2017, British Airways announced at the state's largest airport Thursday morning.

A four year courtship finally took off as the airliner announced flights between New Orleans' Armstrong Airport and London's Heathrow starting March 27. State, New Orleans and business leaders have been trying to persuade such a venture since 2012. New Orleans hasn't had a nonstop flight to Europe since 1982, The Advocate New Orleans reported in its online story about the announcement.

WWL TV reported British Airways plans to use one of its new 214 passenger Boeing 787 Dreamliners on the route. Flights from New Orleans to London will leave New Orleans at 9:10 p.m. and arrive in London at noon the next day. Returning flights to Louisiana will leave London at 3:40 p.m. and arrive in New Orleans at 7:40 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

"We're going to go from being a (tourism) destination to a global city again," the New Orleans daily newspaper reported Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., said.

Already, at least one flight was available from New Orleans to London Monday morning. It appears to be the first flight to head to Europe from MSY - leaving New Orleans just before 9:30 p.m. on Monday, March 27 and arriving in London the next day at noon. The lowest available fare on the flight is an economy ticket for $1,315. Premium economy sold for $2,401 and Business Class was available for $3,946. Fares were one-way.

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