Over the trumpets and guitars of a mariachi band, Raleigh-Durham International Airport welcomed its first nonstop flight from Mexico City on Monday, opening a new chapter in international service.

The Airmexico flights depart daily in both directions, marking RDU’s 10th direct international destination and its 18th airline.

RDU President and CEO Michael Landguth celebrated the new nonstop route by citing the airport’s explosive growth, coming off a record 14.5 million passengers in 2023. Offering direct service to Mexico City allows both RDU and the Triangle further access around the globe, he said.

”This flight is a life-changer for families who be able to get closer, sooner,” said Claudia Velasco, consul general of Mexico in Raleigh. “We are on track in order to have more North Carolina in Mexico and more Mexico in North Carolina.”

Aeromexico announced in November that it would begin daily flights from RDU to Mexico City, using Embraer 190 jets with 99 seats.

Mexico’s flagship airline will partner with Delta for the flights, targeting not just business travelers and tourists but also hoping to attract seasonal farm workers looking for a quicker return home.

The deal betwen Delta and Aeromexico is threatened, however, by antitrust issues still unresolved with the federal government. Without a resolution, the airlines say their flights may end in the fall.