The first nonstop Via Airlines flights out of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport began Thursday morning.

Nonstop service to and from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Austin, Texas, began Thursday. These flights will operate four times each week to and from the Birmingham airport.

Flights to Pittsburgh International Airport from Birmingham will run every Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday at 9:06 a.m. Flights to Austin–Bergstrom International Airport from Birmingham will run every Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday at 1:24 p.m.

“We are very excited to welcome Via Airlines to the Birmingham community,” said Sylvester Lavender, Birmingham Airport Authority’s interim president and CEO. “Working together with the business community has been a positive experience as we were very strategic in our approach to gain new nonstop service from Birmingham. We’re proud to see these new routes come to fruition, making it easier for Birmingham to connect with more economic opportunities.”

Nonstop flights to Raleigh Durham International Airport from Birmingham will begin April 28. More destinations through Via Airlines are likely to be added, Via Airlines officials said in a statement.

“Committing this new air service to Birmingham is playing out to be incredibly rewarding for all involved parties,” said Cynthia Melendez, Via Airlines Marketing Manager. “This is truly an amazing city bustling with economic opportunity and we’re thrilled about the opportunity to provide both its business and leisure travelers with the nonstop jet service they demand and the high-quality service they deserve. We at Via Airlines take pride in our community focus and look forward to a long relationship with the city as we continue to offer new destinations from the Birmingham airport.”

In January, the airline announced it would be adding flights to Mobile, Austin, Pittsburgh and Raleigh.

The airlines other focus cities are Memphis, Raleigh, Pittsburgh and Hartford, Conn. Via joins American, Delta, Southwest, United and Frontier Airlines at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth. The Orlando-based carrier already flies out of Montgomery and Mobile and will operate 50-seat Embraer ERJ145s.

Flight information is available at the Via Airlines website or by calling 800-565-5942.