United Airlines launched daily nonstop round-trip service from Tulsa to Washington (D.C.) Dulles International Airport on Tuesday, the first daily nonstop service offered to the nation's capital from Tulsa International Airport, airport officials said.

The United Express flight, operated by GoJet Airlines on 66-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jets, will provide Tulsa passengers with national and international connections at United's Washington hub, officials said.

At a ribbon-cutting at United's Gate 56 on the west passenger concourse, United, airport and city officials said the new service would open the world to local travelers.

"This daily service offers new options for travel to the East Coast, the Caribbean and across the Atlantic to Europe, the Mideast and Africa," said John Lucht, United's station manager in Tulsa.

Airports Director Jeff Mulder said Washington is the eighth most popular travel destination for Tulsa travelers.

"Our No. 1 goal is to get flights to airports with international hubs," Mulder said. "As an East Coast hub, (Dulles) will provide nonstop service to other hubs. Service to IAD (Dulles) gives Tulsa travelers added flexibility when planning their routes east, including numerous international connections."

United offers connecting flights from Dulles to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, Buenos Aires and Zurich, officials said.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett, who was in Washington meeting with congressional representatives Monday and was unable to attend the United ceremony, provided a statement:

"Nonstop service to Washington, D.C., has been a long-standing request for many Tulsans, and we're glad to have United Airlines add additional flight options to the East Coast," Bartlett said. "This air service not only answers the requests of Tulsans, but to the region as Tulsa will now directly be connected to the nation's capitol."

United's departing flight for Dulles leaves Tulsa at 12:34 p.m. daily, arriving in Washington at 4:10 p.m. local time.

United's returning flight from Dulles leaves Washington at 6:59 p.m. local time, arriving in Tulsa at 8:48 p.m. CDT.

With the addition of United's flight to Washington, the Chicago carrier operates 11 daily flights from Tulsa International Airport: five to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, four to Denver International Airport and one each to Los Angeles International Airport and Dulles.

United's sister company and recent merger partner, Continental Airlines, operates 10 daily flights from Tulsa: nine to Houston Intercontinental Airport and one to Newark International Airport.