Travelers now have a new nonstop gateway to southern Italy, as Italian airline Neos has launched its first direct flight from New York’s JFK International Airport to Bari, the capital of the Apulia (Puglia) region. The inaugural flight took off on Tuesday at 5 p.m., marking the start of a weekly service that is expected to continue into the fall.

“We are very happy to announce that as of today, the new direct flight from New York to Bari will be available, a strategic connection that confirms the major growth potential of the Apulian market,” said Carlo Stradiotti, CEO of Neos, in a press statement. “Our goal is to carry about 12,700 travelers in the first year of operation. These flights are a recognition of the beauty, vitality and international credibility that Puglia has been able to build.”