Traverse City's Airport: What You Need To Know

Traverse City in Michigan is served by Cherry Capital Airport, also known as Traverse City Airport (TVC). The airport is located just 2.7 miles from the city and offers convenient access to Traverse City's most popular attractions, including Pine Grove Park and Pirate's Cove Adventure Park. Cherry Capital Airport is a full-service commercial airport, providing major airline service to over 300 domestic and international destinations. The airport is home to U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, which has been operational since 1946, and has been recognised for its outstanding achievement in snow and ice control.

Traverse City's Cherry Capital Airport is 2.7 miles from the city

Traverse City in Michigan is served by Cherry Capital Airport, a full-service commercial airport. It is located just 2.7 miles from the city, or 2.3 miles according to another source. The airport is owned and operated by the Northwest Regional Airport Authority, which was created in 2022. It is the third-busiest airport in Michigan, and the largest and busiest airport in Northern Michigan, with 700,699 total passengers in 2023. Cherry Capital Airport offers major airline service to over 300 domestic and international destinations, with non-stop flights from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Sun Country, Allegiant, JetBlue, and Avelo. Global connections are also offered through hub airports in Detroit and Chicago.

The airport has one concourse with six gates, and a single fixed-base operator, AvFlight. It is served by the Bay Area Transport Authority (BATA), which links to downtown Traverse City and other locations in the surrounding area. Cherry Capital Airport was opened in 1936, replacing Ransom Field. It originally opened with four runways, all but one of which have since been replaced. The airport has continued to grow, with carriers adding seasonal services and destinations. In 2022, the airport received $14 million in federal funding to maintain operations and complete upgrades during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cherry Capital Airport has received recognition in several forms. It was the recipient of the Balchen/Post Awards for outstanding achievement in snow and ice control in the small commercial service airport category for three consecutive years from 2003-04 to 2005-06. In February 2023, the airport was selected to receive a $5 million grant under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 to replace its passenger jetways and modernize the boarding process. However, in 2009, Forbes ranked the airport second in a list of the top ten "rip-off" airports in the US, citing an average cost per mile to travellers of 41 cents.

It is the third-busiest airport in Michigan

Traverse City is served by Cherry Capital Airport (IATA: TVC, ICAO: KTVC, FAA LID: TVC). The airport is located two nautical miles (or 2.3 miles / 3.7 km) southeast of the central business district of Traverse City. It is categorised as a non-hub primary commercial service facility by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Cherry Capital Airport is the third-busiest airport in Michigan, after Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Gerald R. Ford International Airport outside Grand Rapids. In 2023, Cherry Capital Airport served 700,699 passengers, about twice as many as it did a decade prior. The airport's CEO, Kevin Klein, has stated that the airport is already up 10% in passengers compared to 2023, forecasting revenues of over $11 million for 2024. This unprecedented growth is driven by an increase in business and leisure travel to and from Traverse City and other northern Michigan communities.

To meet this demand, Cherry Capital Airport is planning a $120 million expansion, including the addition of a new terminal and an increase in gate capacity from six to 10 or 11. The airport has also implemented new security measures, becoming the ninth airport in the country to adopt advanced biometric access systems.

Cherry Capital Airport offers major airline services to over 300 domestic and international destinations, with non-stop flights from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Sun Country, Allegiant, JetBlue, and Avelo. It also offers global connections through hub airports in Detroit and Chicago. The airport is unique among regional airports for its "continual, fast connecting flights," making it a convenient option for residents and business owners in northern Michigan.

The airport is suited for domestic flights

Traverse City is served by Cherry Capital Airport, also known by the code TVC. The airport is located just 2.7 miles from the city, with the journey taking around 22 minutes by bus or 15 minutes by taxi. Cherry Capital Airport is a full-service commercial airport, offering flights to over 300 domestic and international destinations. However, despite offering some international flights, the airport is primarily suited for domestic flights. This is likely due to its size and the limited number of international flight options compared to other nearby airports.

Cherry Capital Airport is the third-busiest airport in Michigan, after Detroit and Grand Rapids, and the largest and busiest airport in Northern Michigan. The airport is home to the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, which has been operational since 1946, and was originally opened as a naval air station. The airport has a long history, having first opened in 1936 as Traverse City Airport, replacing Ransom Field. It was later moved onto the Coast Guard Air Station and renamed Cherry Capital Airport.

The airport has five unique airline services, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Sun Country Airlines. These airlines offer direct flights to various destinations across the country, with 18 nonstop flights to popular locations such as New York, Washington, D.C., and Denver. The airport also offers convenient connections to hub airports in Detroit and Chicago, providing year-round global service.

Cherry Capital Airport provides easy access to Traverse City's most popular attractions, such as Pine Grove Park and Pirate's Cove Adventure Park, which are both just a few miles away. The airport has also received recognition for its outstanding achievement in snow and ice control, receiving the Balchen/Post Awards for three consecutive years from 2003 to 2006.

In recent years, the airport has undergone upgrades and improvements, including the addition of parking spots, a third TSA checkpoint line, and a hybrid USO location to assist travelling soldiers. In 2022, the Northwest Regional Airport Authority was established to operate the airport, and Cherry Capital Airport received a $5 million grant to further enhance its infrastructure.

It offers direct flights to 18 destinations

Traverse City is served by Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), a full-service commercial airport located just 2.7 miles from the city. The airport offers direct flights to several destinations across the United States, providing convenient travel options for residents and visitors alike.

With a vision to be the airport of choice for all travellers in Northwest Michigan, Cherry Capital Airport offers non-stop flights to a range of destinations. According to the FlightsFrom.com website, passengers can fly non-stop to 16 destinations with 5 airlines. These include major carriers such as American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.

One source indicates that the airport offers direct flights to 18 destinations. While the exact number may vary depending on scheduling and seasonal adjustments, Cherry Capital Airport provides convenient connections to popular locations. For example, Chicago O'Hare International Airport is a major hub, with up to 46 flights departing from Traverse City each week, accounting for 50% of all weekly departures.

Other destinations accessible via direct flights from Traverse City include Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Orlando Sanford International Airport, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, and Charlotte County-Punta Gorda Airport. Travellers can take advantage of these non-stop options to efficiently reach their desired locations without the need for time-consuming layovers.

In addition to its direct flight offerings, Cherry Capital Airport also provides global connections through hub airports in Detroit and Chicago, ensuring that travellers can reach a wide range of domestic and international destinations. The airport is committed to improving the passenger experience and actively pursues design, development, and funding opportunities to enhance its facilities and services.

The airport received $14 million in federal funding in 2020

Traverse City does have an airport. Traverse City's TVC - Cherry Capital Airport is a full-service commercial airport, located 2.7 miles from the city centre. The airport offers major airline services to over 300 domestic and international destinations. Airlines operating from the airport include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Sun Country, Allegiant, JetBlue, and Avelo.

Cherry Capital Airport received $72,420 in federal funding in 2020. The grant money was shared with six other airports in Michigan. The airport's director, Kevin Klein, stated that the funding would be used to purchase a zero-emissions, electric vehicle to add to their fleet of operations and maintenance vehicles. Klein emphasised that this was a step towards reducing the airport's environmental impact and carbon footprint.

In addition to the 2020 federal funding, Cherry Capital Airport has received other financial support for various projects. In 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration provided $5,225,000 to replace five boarding bridges, improving customer experiences and ensuring safe and reliable air travel. The airport is also preparing for a $120 million terminal expansion, with plans to break ground in 2026. This expansion will address the airport's capacity for future growth and development.

The airport has a history of effectively utilising entitlement and grant funding, having not requested discretionary funding since 2006. The NRAA, which operates Cherry Capital Airport, intends to bond $60 million for the expansion project. This expansion demonstrates the airport's commitment to enhancing its infrastructure and meeting the needs of travellers and tenants.

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