AirTran Airways is launching non-stop service between William P. Hobby Airport and Branson, Missouri.

The airline says the move is in response to increased demand for access to the city known as “the live music show capital of the world.”  The new service is set to launch on May 26, 2011.

“Branson has already proven itself to be a popular destination for Houstonians,” says Ian Wadsworth, the Houston Airport System’s chief commercial officer. “This new service is going to make the ties between the two cities even stronger in the future.”

Last year, more than 8 million travelers visited Branson’s hotels and took in its wide array of entertainment options.

Despite being a relatively small city from a population standpoint, Branson has become a major tourist destination in the United States by offering a broad selection of live-music choices, all of which are family-friendly.

“Branson’s family-friendly sights and sounds make it one of America’s favorite vacation destinations,” says Tad Hutcheson, AirTran Airways’ vice president of marketing and sales. “AirTran Airways prides itself on customer service and moved quickly when the demand for more service to Branson became clear.”

That demand has been well-established over the past year. In 2010, the city of Branson itself helped establish charter air-service from Houston in an effort to increase tourism.

The goal of that charter service was to prove to an established carrier that the route could prove itself to be profitable.