SAN JOSE — City officials Wednesday announced the first international nonstop service to London from Mineta San Jose International Airport, marking the latest victory in an effort to lure more passengers needed to pay down a $1.3 billion modernization completed in 2010.

The first flight will take off May 4. The new partnership with British Airways is expected to bring an estimated $100 million boost annually to San Jose’s economy in the form of shopping, hotel rooms, parking fees and airport concessions.

But to convince British Airways to make San Jose the fourth California city it calls home, airport officials offered deep incentives. Director of Aviation Kim Becker said the airport waived landing, gate and ticket center fees — which all airlines are expected to pay — for two years. The company will pay to lease office space at the airport, Becker said.

British Airways officials said the company invested in a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to fly up to 220 San Jose passengers in one daily nonstop flight. San Jose’s airport hasn’t had direct service to Europe since American Airlines pulled the plug on flights to Paris in 2001, Becker said.

Marc Casto, owner of Casto Travel Agency, said his company sells $140 million in services a year and London is the No. 1 international destination demanded by customers. But without a direct flight from San Jose, travelers would be routed to Chicago, Los Angeles or New York to catch another plane to London — often a big inconvenience and waste of time.

Casto said the nonstop service to London will have a positive impact on his business, which has offices in San Jose, San Francisco, Tiburon and the Philippines.

“When choosing flights, one of the top considerations is if it’s a direct flight,” Casto said. “It’s important for our customers because of the sheer amount of time saved not having to worry about connections.”

But San Jose International is competing with San Francisco, which offers two daily direct flights to London Heathrow International Airport. City leaders pitched the San Jose airport as a more reliable alternative, with fewer delays for heavy fog, to San Francisco — the primary Bay Area destination for international flights. Officials said San Jose International has fewer than five weather delays a year.

“We found thousands of people were living here but traveling to San Francisco,” Vice Mayor Rose Herrera said. “Not only do you lose time driving to San Francisco, but flights get cancelled and you’re waiting around.”

With nearly 10 million passengers a year, the San Jose airport remains a hair behind Oakland as the Bay Area’s No. 3 airport in passenger traffic. That’s why securing new flights is a crucial step in building revenue and putting San Jose’s airport on the map.

“We’re told the market potential for this route is 900,000 passengers,” said Mayor Sam Liccardo, who hopped out of a London taxi cab minutes before making the announcement Wednesday. “This is a time for San Jose to continue taking off, and we’re not just taking off at our airport. We’re taking off throughout the city.”

City officials said bringing British Airways to San Jose was not an overnight effort and it took nearly four years to secure the partnership. It’s the fourth new destination for the San Jose airport in 2015, following flights to Beijing, Dallas and Eugene.

Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino said his organization secured 91 CEO signatures in 24 hours to support the effort. He said 481 Silicon Valley companies have a presence in England and 118 British employers have facilities here.

“Time is treasure. We can’t afford to waste time as executives stuck in traffic going to another airport with direct flights,” Guardino said. “Our companies, whether large or small, are global from day one.”

Guardino said the top international destinations for most of the group’s 390 member companies are Tokyo, Beijing, London, Seoul and Frankfurt. San Jose already has secured international nonstop service to Japan and China.

The British Airways flight from San Jose to London will offer connections to 130 other destinations, company leaders said.

“We recognize the continued growth in the Bay Area makes it the perfect time and the natural choice for us to make this move,” said Simon Brooks, senior vice president of British Airways. “We’re listening to our customers who want the extra choice.”

Follow Ramona Giwargis at Twitter.com/ramonagiwargis or contact her at 408-920-5705.