(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina air travelers now have new non-stop service to San Francisco.  Officials at Raleigh-Durham International Airport held a ceremony Wednesday morning for the first once daily flight.

Airport spokeswoman Mindy Hamlin said that it took a major lobbying effort to convince United Airlines to offer the service it has been a long time in coming.  She said the need was certainly there because of the strong relationship the life and science and biotech companies in North Carolina have with companies on the west coast.

"Working with local companies, working with local economic developers, we have been talking about this service airlines, including United over the years." said Hamlin.

There is already  non-stop service to Los Angeles from RDU and Hamlin said airport officials are also looking at non-stop service to European locations such as Paris.