When Direct Air's flight leaves Niagara Falls International Airport in December, bound for Ft. Myers/Punta Gorda, Fla., it mark a significant moment in Niagara County's aviation history.

That flight will be the first to officially leave from the new, 68,000-square-foot passenger terminal at the airport.

While the $43 million terminal made its debut in early September, crews were finishing the final bits of construction. That work is slated to be completed by late November.

Officials from the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority learned that the Dec. 11 Direct Air flight will be the first to leave from the terminal.

The terminal is expected to attract new charter and selected commercial passenger carrier service. NFTA representatives along with tourism industry officials from both Niagara County and Southern Ontario will be meeting on Nov. 6 with State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, to discuss ways in which more flights and passengers will come to the terminal.