The Traverse City Airport: Size, Scope, And Significance

Traverse City's Cherry Capital Airport (IATA: TVC, ICAO: KTVC, FAA LID: TVC) is located in Michigan, United States, and is the third-busiest airport in the state. The airport is situated on 1026 acres of land, two nautical miles (2.3 mi; 3.7 km) southeast of Traverse City's central business district. It has two asphalt runways, with the primary runway measuring 7,016 by 150 feet (2,138 by 46 m) and the secondary runway measuring 5,378 by 150 feet (1,639 by 46 m). Cherry Capital Airport has been expanding, with upgrades to its parking lot and TSA checkpoint, and it is on track to surpass its 2023 passenger record of 700,699 total passengers.

Traverse City Airport is also known as Cherry Capital Airport

Traverse City Airport, also known as Cherry Capital Airport, is located in Traverse City, Michigan, United States. It is a commercial and general aviation airport, categorised as a non-hub primary commercial service facility by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The airport is located two nautical miles (2.3 miles or 3.7 kilometres) southeast of the central business district of Traverse City.

Cherry Capital Airport was opened in 1936, replacing Ransom Field. It was initially named Traverse City Airport and was moved onto the Coast Guard Air Station, which was a naval air station that opened in 1946. The airport opened with four runways, three of which have since been replaced. In 2004, a new terminal was built on the south side of the east-west runway, which was extended in 2013 and 2017 to accommodate more flights and potentially upgrade to an international airport.

Cherry Capital Airport is the third-busiest airport in Michigan, after Detroit and Grand Rapids. It is the largest and busiest airport in Northern Michigan, with 700,699 total passengers in 2023. The airport has one concourse with six gates and two asphalt-paved runways. The east-west runway was extended in 2013 and 2017, and the airport has continued to grow with various carriers adding seasonal services and destinations. In 2021 and 2022, the airport set passenger records despite a decrease in the number of flights.

The airport is owned and operated by the Northwest Regional Airport Authority, which was established in 2022. Previously, the airport was jointly owned and operated by Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. The airport received $14 million in 2020 through the federal CARES Act to maintain operations and complete upgrades during the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2023, Cherry Capital Airport was awarded a $5 million grant to replace its passenger jetways and modernise the boarding process.

The airport is located 2 miles southeast of Traverse City on 1026 acres of land

Traverse City Airport, also known as Cherry Capital Airport, is located 2 miles southeast of Traverse City, Michigan, and covers 1026 acres of land. The airport is categorised as a non-hub primary commercial service facility by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It is the third-busiest airport in Michigan, serving 700,699 total passengers in 2023. Cherry Capital Airport is also the largest and busiest airport in Northern Michigan.

The airport has two asphalt runways, with the east-west runway having been extended twice, in 2013 and 2017, to accommodate more flights and potentially upgrade to an international airport. The airport has continued to grow, with carriers adding seasonal services and destinations. In 2022, a Costco store opened next to the airport entrance, and upgrades were made to the parking lot and TSA checkpoint, adding 424 parking spots and a third TSA checkpoint line.

Cherry Capital Airport was opened in 1936, replacing Ransom Field. It originally had four runways, three of which have since been replaced. The airport is home to the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, which has been operational since 1946. The airport was previously jointly owned and operated by Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties, but is now owned and operated by the Northwest Regional Airport Authority, which was established in 2022.

Despite high inflation and flat or declining tourism trends, Cherry Capital Airport has continued to break records, with 124,000 passengers in July 2024, its busiest month ever. According to airport CEO Kevin Klein, the airport is on track to exceed its 2023 passenger total by 11%. Klein also noted that the airport has seen a 40% increase in passenger numbers since 2018, a unique success story among American airports.

It has two asphalt runways, with the longest measuring 7,016 ft

Traverse City's Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) is a commercial and general aviation airport located in Traverse City, Michigan, United States. The airport is located two nautical miles (2.3 mi; 3.7 km) southeast of the central business district of Traverse City. It has two asphalt runways, with the longest measuring 7,016 ft (2,138 m) and the other measuring 5,378 ft (1,639 m). Both runways are 150 ft (46 m) wide.

Cherry Capital Airport opened in 1936 as Traverse City Airport, replacing Ransom Field. The airport originally had four runways, all but one of which have since been replaced. The airport is located on the site of the Coast Guard Air Station, which was a naval air station that opened in 1946. In 2004, a new terminal was built on the south side of the east-west runway, replacing the old terminal on the north side. This project also involved reconfiguring the runways and removing the third diagonal runway.

The airport has continued to grow and expand in recent years. In 2013 and 2017, the east-west runway was extended to accommodate more flights and potentially upgrade to an international airport for Air Canada Express flights. In 2022, the airport saw further upgrades to its parking lot and TSA checkpoint, adding 424 parking spots and a third TSA checkpoint line.

Cherry Capital Airport is the third-busiest airport in Michigan, serving 700,699 total passengers in 2023. The airport has seen record-breaking growth in recent years, with a 40% increase in passenger numbers since 2018. In July 2024, the airport tallied 124,000 passengers, its busiest month ever. This growth is surprising given that local tourism has been sluggish, with high inflation and decreasing tourism trends.

In 2021, the airport saw 101,106 aircraft operations, averaging 277 per day

Cherry Capital Airport, located in Traverse City, Michigan, United States, is a busy aviation hub. The airport has a rich history, opening in 1936 as Traverse City Airport and evolving over the decades to become the third-busiest airport in Michigan as of 2023. The airport's growth has been remarkable, with records being broken and passenger numbers surging.

In 2021, Cherry Capital Airport witnessed an impressive 101,106 aircraft operations, averaging 277 movements per day. This high volume of flights comprised various aviation categories, with 75% classified as general aviation, 11% as scheduled commercial flights, 8% as air taxi, and 6% as military operations. The airport's two asphalt-paved runways accommodate these diverse operations. The primary runway, 10/28, spans 7,016 feet in length and 150 feet in width, while the secondary runway, 18/36, measures 5,378 feet by 150 feet.

The airport's growth has been a topic of interest, with local media attributing it to factors beyond tourism. Traverse City's allure as a tourist destination is undeniable, but experts have noted that local tourism has been sluggish in recent years due to economic factors such as inflation, high-interest rates, and cautious consumer spending. Despite this, Cherry Capital Airport has thrived, with CEO Kevin Klein attributing their success to factors beyond tourism.

The airport's growth trajectory is impressive, with a notable 40% increase in passenger numbers compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2018. This growth has positioned Cherry Capital Airport as a unique success story among American airports, defying the national average of stagnant or minimal expansion. The airport's popularity is further evidenced by its ranking as the second busiest airport in the United States for added seat capacity from July 2024 to January 2025, surpassed only by Charlotte.

The airport is owned and operated by the Northwest Regional Airport Authority

Cherry Capital Airport, located in Traverse City, Michigan, is owned and operated by the Northwest Regional Airport Authority. The airport authority was established in 2022 to take over the airport's operations from Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties, which had jointly owned and operated the airport for years. The Northwest Regional Airport Authority aims to drive economic growth in Northern Michigan by providing world-class service and improving the airport's infrastructure.

Cherry Capital Airport has a rich history, opening in 1936 as Traverse City Airport, replacing Ransom Field. The airport was initially located on the Coast Guard Air Station, which was a naval air station that opened in 1946. Over the years, the airport has undergone several changes, including the addition of new terminals and the reconfiguration of runways. In 2004, a new terminal was built on the south side of the east-west runway, replacing the old terminal on the north side. This project also involved the removal of the third diagonal runway.

The airport is categorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a non-hub primary commercial service facility. It is the third-busiest airport in Michigan, after Detroit and Grand Rapids, and the largest and busiest airport in Northern Michigan. In 2023, the airport served a total of 700,699 passengers. Cherry Capital Airport has two asphalt-paved runways: 10/28, which is 7,016 by 150 feet, and 18/36, which is 5,378 by 150 feet. The airport is home to the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City and has a variety of aircraft based there, including airplanes, helicopters, and jets.

The Northwest Regional Airport Authority has been working to improve the airport's infrastructure and passenger experience. In 2022, the airport received upgrades to its parking lot and TSA checkpoint, adding more parking spots and improving security screening. The airport has also been recognised for its achievements in snow and ice control, receiving multiple Balchen/Post Awards in this area. Additionally, Cherry Capital Airport has set passenger records in recent years and received funding to modernise its facilities.

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