Passengers from Niagara Falls International Airport will be able to fly to Melbourne, Fla., starting in February.

Direct Air has announced it will add a third destination to the routes the Myrtle Beach, S.C., company flies from the Niagara Falls airport.

The company plans to begin flights twice weekly from Niagara Falls International to Melbourne International Airport. Those flights will then continue on to Port Charlotte Airport in Punta Gorda, Fla.

The announcement comes as the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority prepares to open a $31.6 million new terminal at the airport in December and has aggressively attempted to attract new flights to Niagara Falls.

"The addition of flights, the addition of activity starts to draw more interest into an airport," said Bill Vanecek, NFTA Director of Aviation. "It's extremely important; when you see those passenger numbers start to climb, it makes marketing the airport simpler."

Vanecek said a second Florida destination would appeal to potential passengers from Western New York and southern Ontario.