Confused air travelers were met by an array of tropical music echoing through the Arcata-Eureka Airport on Thursday, as locals celebrated the first Delta Air Lines flight coming in from Salt Lake City to Humboldt County.

The flight came in from Salt Lake City near its full capacity of 50 seats at about 12:40 p.m. — 20 minutes later than expected — and was met by a fire truck spouting a stream of water outside and the Pan Dulce Steel Orchestra inside as the passengers made their way to baggage claim.

SkyWest Station Manager Angie Lemke said there will now be two round-trips offered from the Arcata-Eureka airport to Salt Lake City every day through Delta.

A surprised Deborah Jeppson of Pocatello, Idaho was one of the passengers of the first Delta flight into Humboldt County on Thursday.

She came to visit family in McKinleyville and didn’t expect such a celebration and said she didn’t even know she was on the first Delta flight until that day.

“I’m just happy to see my family,” she said, as she was greeted by her mom and niece.

Colleen Lewis, of Fortuna, was one of many confused travelers trying to check in during the celebration of music, balloons and cake.

She was getting ready to go to San Luis Obispo via San Francisco and said she enjoyed the music, but didn’t appreciate how loud it was.

“I was wondering if I was in the right place for a minute,” she said. “I didn’t expect it, but it’s great that they’re celebrating.”

Greg Foster, former executive director of Redwood Region Economic Development Commission, was on-hand to celebrate as RREDC was one of the leading agencies to recruit Delta to Humboldt County.

“It will connect Humboldt with the rest of the world and I have no doubt it’s going to be a great success,” Foster said.

Delta Market Analyst Steve Hedden was up from Delta’s Atlanta headquarters to celebrate Delta’s first flight to Humboldt.

“It really seemed like there was a need and a demand not being met,” Hedden said. “Hopefully, it will provide residents the opportunity to travel east and help tourism and the business community, by making it easier to come to the Redwood Coast.”

Jacquelyn Hulsey, airport manager, said, “You know they say it takes a village to raise a child, well it takes a community to make an airport accessible like this with the service we’re getting. It was truly a group effort.”

The last time the airport had a “big party” was for the Horizon Air direct flight to Los Angeles three years ago, Hulsey said, and their next party should be coming up soon, as the airport continues to complete their new terminal — which will add 10,000 square feet for a new security area — opening sometime in November.