Cherry Capital Airport

Northern Michigan’s Aviation Gateway

Driving Aviation growth and steering economic expansion

Located in the scenic community of Traverse City, Cherry Capital Airport, a dynamic commercial and general aviation hub, has earned its place as a valued regional asset with an economic impact close to $2 billion. The airport is a primary source of medical and business travel, and a welcoming front door for tourists discovering the beauty of Northern Michigan. With record passenger growth, and ambitious expansion plans, Cherry Capital Airport is exceeding expectations and continuing to raise the aviation bar.

“We have an outstanding facility with two runways, one that’s 7016 feet, and one that’s 5378,” describes Kevin Klein, CEO of the Northwest Regional Airport Authority. “Cherry Capital Airport is the third largest airport in the state of Michigan. We have seven airlines that service us to 20 non stop destinations. From the general aviation side we have great fixed base operators with Avflight, 45 North, and air ambulance services with North Flight Aero Med.” 

Those operators support nearly 100,000 annual aircraft operations and a base of 105 aircraft. The airport is also home to the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, which operates three MH 60 Jayhawk helicopters for search and rescue missions across Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and northern Lake Huron.

Festivals, Tourism, and Partnerships

Passenger traffic at Cherry Capital Airport reflects the seasonal appeal of the region. Traverse City and the surrounding area are gaining attention as an ideal summer destination, drawing visitors from Texas, Florida, and the East Coast who want to escape the heat. “In the summer, we offer all kinds of great outdoor activities, from golf to wineries to trails, fishing, and family fun,” notes Klein. 

“We have cold temperatures in the winter and it’s the reverse. Our locals want to get out and go to some warm place. So that’s where services, especially airlines like Allegiant, have become strong in our market. They provide that ‘non-stop fun to the sun,’ so to speak.”

With a name that highlights Traverse City’s heritage as the world’s leading producer of tart cherries, Cherry Capital Airport works hand in hand with local tourism agencies to attract visitors to the community. “We celebrate that with a pretty large festival that brings in upwards of 500,000 people into our area. It kicks off with an air show, usually with a major act, like the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds, or a major military act with F-22s,” Klein describes. 

Additionally, the Traverse City Equestrian Festival, a summer long event, brings in 5,000 horses and generates an economic impact of roughly $124 million annually.

Partnerships with the Downtown Development Authority and Traverse City Tourism help to promote the airport and the community. “As a small airport, we don’t have a large marketing budget, so we match it with co-op funds that come from the tourism bureau,” he outlines. 

“As much as it’s important to bring people in to stay in our hotels,  when someone flies in, they stay longer. The average stay of a person that flies in is about five days, compared to less than two for someone that would drive in.”

Business, Innovation, and Migration

Along with its importance as a tourism driver, Cherry Capital Airport also strengthens business growth in the region. “We are the hub traffic for Northern Michigan for air service,” Klein details. “Our legacy carriers, Delta, United and American, see that business traveler. We see all different kinds of things, from tech firms, engineering firms, and our medical fields. We are very strong in all of those areas, and we continue to see that growth.”  

The airport’s connectivity was also a factor during the pandemic trend that saw people migrating to preferred areas to work from home. “People wanted to work now where they could live and play,” he explains. “We saw that influx of people moving to our area. One of the reasons people chose Northern Michigan to live is because of the air service.” 

Klein points to the demographic shifts that are also shaping Cherry Capital Airport’s growth, noting that the Traverse City area is home to a high concentration of millennial millionaires. “That generation really wants to be able to travel for work and fun, so having an airport with seven airlines and 20 non stop destinations is very attractive to that age group,” he asserts. “It’s also very attractive for developing new businesses and we have lots of entrepreneurs in that millennial range.”

Infrastructure and Expansion

With growth exceeding forecasts, the airport is now investing in infrastructure to carry it forward. “Our current terminal was designed for about 350,000 annual passengers. In 2024 we had 787,114 total passengers,” says Klein. “We’re already growing in 2025 about 22 percent over the record year of 2024.” 

To meet this demand, Cherry Capital Airport is launching a $120 million terminal expansion project. Scheduled to begin in March 2026, the addition will create a new concourse with five jet bridges, to be completed by spring 2028. Plans also include a third concourse in the future. “We definitely need every inch of that room right now, and we’re growing at a rate that really is driving us to add that to it,” he underscores. “ 

The best part about that is we need terminal infrastructure to meet our growing demand, but from an airline standpoint, we have all the assets that not only get us anywhere domestically in the United States, but, with a 7000 foot runway, we would easily be able to achieve European destinations as these newer aircraft come on board.”

Avflight also completed a new $7 million corporate hangar in 2024 for a local insurance company, adding to the airport’s growing infrastructure. Klein says private developers are also expressing strong interest, with proposals for 10 new small general aviation hangars and another three linked to a previous project. “We went to an airport authority in October of 2021, and that allows us the flexibility to negotiate leases with those that are willing to do private investment,” he shares. 

“Since we’ve been an authority Avflight has seen over $12 million worth of investments into the airport. We’ve seen another million dollars that’s going in with our cafe and gift shop, and those are all the types of things where you need long term leases.” 

Training the Next Generation

As it continues to expand, Cherry Capital Airport is helping to train the aviation experts of the future. Northwestern Michigan College and Giving Wings Aviation both operate flight schools on the field, while Legacy Aviation provides aircraft mechanic training. “They’ve partnered with a local high school, Northwestern Michigan Education Services and our Career Opportunity Center  on the aircraft maintenance side,” relays Klein. 

“In high school they can get training, and then they come to Legacy to finish that training. Then, within a year, they have an aircraft airframe and power plant license, and they can go to work.” With starting salaries in the $75,000 to $80,000 range, the program is addressing a workforce shortage while providing high paying jobs for graduates.

On the healthcare side, North Flight Aero Med operates from the airport in partnership with Munson Medical Center. Its fleet, which includes a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter and King Air 200 aircraft, provides rapid patient transport across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. 

Klein recounts, “They will go up and pick up patients and take them down to U of M or bring them into our hospital here. We have a major trauma center, cancer center and heart center here in Traverse City. So the ability to have an air ambulance to get people from rural areas when anything major happens is an awesome advantage. It makes our quality of life here very high.”

Passionate Leadership for Continued Growth

Looking ahead, Klein says completing the terminal expansion, attracting another legacy carrier, and extending the peak season into year round activity are his three top priorities. 

On a more personal note, Klein shares his love of aviation, which  is not just a career but a lifelong passion. He credits his father, who used to take him and his siblings to watch airplanes on Sunday afternoons, for sparking his interest. After earning an aviation degree from Western Michigan University and working across the country, Klein returned to Michigan in 2002. He became airport director in 2011 and later CEO when the airport transitioned to authority status.

“I love Traverse City. It’s my home. And one of the reasons I stay here is because I get to work where I play and live,” he imparts. 

“I love the airport itself, all the people that work here and are part of our airport family. We have close to 2000 people that work for various businesses across the airport. Our love of aviation is there every day. To be able to see the number of flights grow, and the airlines coming to see what this is all about, that’s very rewarding in itself.”

At a Glance

Who: Cherry Capital Airport

What: A commercial and general aviation airport serving close to 800,000 passengers annually

Where: Traverse City, Michigan

Website: www.tvcairport.com