Nov. 11--LAKELAND -- Montreal is now just a few hours away.

Direct Air started its flights to Plattsburgh, N.Y., from Lakeland Linder Regional Airport at 6 a.m. Thursday when 22 people boarded the Boeing 737-400.

The plane returned about 1 p.m. from Plattsburgh, just south of Montreal, with about a 130 people.

"We were on time," said Gene Conrad, airport director at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.

Airport officials welcomed travelers from the nearly three hour flight with balloons and cake.

It's a third destination city from Lakeland for the airline, which has had an up and down first six months at the airport. Direct Air now flies to Niagara Falls, N.Y., Plattsburgh and Springfield, Ill.

Flights to the Canada area have been successful, but the airline has canceled flights to Hagerstown, MD., and Myrtle Beach, S.C., because not enough passengers were booking flights to Lakeland. Flights to San Juan were also expected to begin in November but have been pushed back to the spring.

Mechanical issues have caused a number of delays.

The planes are contracted to Direct Air by Sky King airlines.

Ed Warneck, president of Direct Air, said on Thursday he hasn't been pleased with the mechanical issues on some of the planes.

"We're in the process of bettering our flights," Warneck said. "There will be fewer mechanical issues."

In October, a delayed flight of 120 passengers took off for Niagara Falls after a 15 hour wait.

In August, engine failure on a Dynamic Airways plane caused a Direct Air flight leaving Lakeland Linder Regional Airport to make an emergency landing in Tampa. The airline no longer contracts with Dynamic Airways.

But despite problems, Warneck said he expects Lakeland Linder to expand its Direct Air flights in the coming months and years. Next spring, the airline may revive its flight to Myrtle Beach to connect another east coast city.

Warneck mentioned Worcester, Mass., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Hartford, Conn., as possible destinations.

"I think we'll end up having nine or 10 destinations (from Lakeland)," Warneck said. "We plan to grow and expand."

[ John Chambliss can be reached at [email protected] or 863-802-7588. ]

Copyright 2011 - The Ledger, Lakeland, Fla.