A proposed $27.5 million passenger terminal at Niagara Falls International Airport is closer to takeoff, thanks to federal approval of future passenger and cargo projections, and a clearer funding picture.

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority on Thursday confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration has signed off on the NFTA's aviation activity forecast at the proposed terminal, an approval that clears the way for final planning and construction.

Also on Thursday, the NFTA unveiled an updated action plan for the airport to close a $13.1 million gap in funding for the terminal project.

"The stars are finally starting to align for us," NFTA Chairman Greg Stamm said. "Instead of worrying about where the money is going to come from, we have a plan to reach our goal."

The FAA-approved forecast for future NFTA passenger activity pegs the outbound traveler count by 2011 at 14,460. That represents a 1,027 percent leap in traffic from the most recent annual tally of 1,283 departing fliers -- a head count dominated by Immigration and Naturalization Service deportees.

The agency also accepted the NFTA's projections of 2,646 cargo flights in 2011, up from 2,168 in 2006.