Michigan's Domestic Airport Count: How Many Are There?

Michigan has 54 airports, including 17 major airports. The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is Michigan's largest airport and is located in Romulus, a suburb of Detroit. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport, located in Grand Rapids, is named after Michigan native and former US President Gerald R. Ford. The Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City offers a unique gateway to Lake Michigan, wineries, and the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Michigan's airports are spread across the state, making it easy to fly to various destinations within the state.

Michigan's busiest airport

Michigan has numerous airports located throughout the state, making it easy to book flights. Michigan's busiest airport is the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), located in Romulus, a suburb of Detroit. This airport is Michigan's largest and busiest, serving as a hub for both domestic and international travel.

DTW is conveniently located near the I-275 and I-94 highways, providing easy access to nearby cities like Detroit and Ann Arbor. The airport also offers a 10-level parking facility, accommodating nearly 11,500 vehicles, with free parking for motorcycles. Additionally, there are privately owned parking lots in the vicinity.

The second busiest airport in Michigan is the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, named after a Michigan native and former US President, Gerald R. Ford. This airport is situated 20 minutes away from downtown Grand Rapids and serves as a gateway to 24 major market destinations. It is a popular choice for those seeking to explore Lake Michigan, visit wineries, or experience the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Other notable airports in Michigan include the Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City, which offers a unique travel option to Mackinac Island, and the Detroit Willow Run Airport (YIP), located less than 10 miles east of the University of Michigan. For those travelling to Michigan State University, the Capital Region International Airport (LAN) is a convenient option.

Michigan's airports cater to a range of travel needs, from leisure trips to the state's natural attractions to educational journeys to its universities. The state's well-distributed airports and their varying capacities contribute to the ease of air travel within and to Michigan.

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Michigan has several airports located throughout the state, making it easy to book flights for travel within the state. One of these airports is the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Michigan's largest and busiest airport. Located in Romulus, a suburb of Detroit, it is conveniently situated near I-275 and I-94, providing easy access to nearby cities like Detroit and Ann Arbor. The airport also has a 10-level parking facility that can accommodate nearly 11,500 vehicles, with free parking for motorcycles.

DTW is a primary international airport serving Detroit and its surrounding metropolitan area. Covering 4,850 acres of land, it features six runways, two terminals (McNamara Terminal and Evans Terminal), and 129 in-service gates. The airport is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and a base for Spirit Airlines, offering service to 30 international destinations and 39 states across the United States. It serves over 140 destinations and has been recognised for its customer satisfaction, winning awards in 2010, 2019, and 2022.

The history of DTW can be traced back to 1927 when Wayne County began planning for an airport in the western townships. In 1928, the county board issued a $2 million bond to fund the purchase of land, and construction was completed in 1929. The airport was dedicated on September 4, 1930, and over the years, it underwent several expansions and name changes. Today, it is a large hub primary commercial service facility, providing convenient travel options for passengers in Michigan and beyond.

The airport offers a range of amenities and services to ensure a smooth travel experience. It is recommended that passengers arrive two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight to allow sufficient time for parking, baggage check, and security checks. DTW also provides accessible entrances, wheelchair assistance, and other services for passengers with disabilities.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport

Michigan has numerous airports scattered across the state, making it easy to book flights to Michigan. One of these airports is the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, a commercial airport in Cascade Township, approximately 13 miles southeast of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The airport is named after Gerald R. Ford, a Michigan native who served as the 40th Vice President and 38th President of the United States, representing the Grand Rapids area in the House of Representatives from 1949 to 1973.

The facility opened as the Kent County Airport and later became the Kent County International Airport. In December 1999, it was renamed the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. As of July 2023, the airport offered flights to 33 airports across the United States, serving over 2 million passengers annually. It is the largest commercial airport in West Michigan and the second-largest airport in Michigan after the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The airport covers 3,127 acres and has two parallel east-west runways and one north-south runway. It also has a passenger terminal with two concourses: Concourse A has 15 gates, while Concourse B has eight.

The airport provides convenient parking options, including Premier Parking, Short-Term Garage Parking, Long-Term Garage Parking, Long-Term North Lot, and Economy Lot. It also offers a variety of dining options, such as full-service restaurants, grab-and-go windows, and local favourites. Additionally, the airport houses the West Michigan Aviation Academy, a public charter high school specialising in aviation, STEM, and robotics education.

In recent years, the airport has undergone several expansion and renovation projects, including the Gateway Transformation Project, which involved reconstructing the baggage claim, check-in, and front-of-house areas, as well as improving stormwater management practices to protect the Thornapple River. The airport is easily accessible, located at the intersection of 44th Street and Patterson Avenue, with nearby access to highways I-96, M-6, M-37, and M-11.

Airports in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Michigan has numerous airports located throughout the state, including in its Upper Peninsula. In fact, there are 22 airports in Michigan's Upper Peninsula alone. These airports include:

• Albert J. Lindberg Airport
• Chippewa County International Airport
• Delta County Airport
• Drummond Island Airport
• Edward F Johnson Airport
• Ford Airport (Iron Mountain)
• Gogebic–Iron County Airport
• Grand Marais Airport
• Houghton County Memorial Airport
• Johnson Field
• Mackinac County Airport
• Mackinac Island Airport
• Marquette Sawyer International Airport
• Menominee–Marinette Twin County Airport
• Ontonagon County Airport
• Prickett–Grooms Field
• Sault Ste. Marie Municipal Airport
• Schoolcraft County Airport

Some of these airports are quite small, serving small towns and rural areas. For example, Grand Marais Airport is located in the small town of Grand Marais, which has a population of just a few hundred people. On the other hand, Sawyer International Airport is a larger airport that serves the city of Marquette and the surrounding area. It offers daily flights to Chicago and Detroit and is an important gateway to the region.

In addition to the airports in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, there are also several larger airports in the southern part of the state, including Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, and Bishop International Airport. These airports serve the larger cities of Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Flint, respectively, and offer a wider range of flights to destinations throughout the United States and beyond.

Former airports in Michigan

Michigan has numerous airports located throughout the state, making travel within the state convenient and straightforward. While the exact number of domestic airports in Michigan is unclear, there are several former airports in the state that are worth noting. Here is a list of some notable former airports in Michigan:

• Acme Skyport (closed 1995?)
• Tackaberry Airport (closed 2010?)
• Mayes Airport (closed 2008?)
• Athelone Williams Memorial Airport
• Ford Airport (closed 1947 in 1947)
• Indian Creek Ranch Airport
• Davis Airport (closed 2000)
• Yuba Airport (closed indefinitely, FAA record still active)
• Erie Aerodrome (closed 2010?)
• Carriage Lane Airport (closed 2007?)
• Park Township Airport
• Austin Lake Airport (closed 2001?)
• Marquette County Airport (closed 1999)
• Bean Blossom Airport (closed 2008?)
• Leo E. Goetz County Airport (closed permanently ~2015-2018)
• Loar's Field (public use in 2006)
• Bonnie Field (public use in 2008)
• Double JJ Resort Ranch Airport (closed 2008?)
• Standish Industrial Airport (closed 2006?)
• Sugar Loaf Resort Airport (closed, formerly known as Wallace G. Fryer Airfield)
• Traverse City Ransom Field (closed 1969)

These airports have been closed or are no longer in operation, but they once served their respective communities and played a role in Michigan's aviation history.

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