additions.“Many of the markets we’ve added recently came directly from analyzing that data,” Sapone explains. “Take Phoenix-Mesa, for example — there is a strong second-home market there for people in our region of Michigan. Jacksonville is similar, and the I-95 corridor overall is a sweet spot for us, with a lot of Michiganders owning second homes along that stretch.” Passenger numbers indicate sustained growth, rising from 285,000 in 2022 to over 350,000 in 2025, representing a 20 percent increase. The airport actively cultivates business travel through enhanced Chicago connectivity. Both United and American now operate three daily flights with dualclass aircraft, a service upgrade that enables sameday business trips. “They’ve upgraded the aircraft, which gives you a better product for business travel, with additional frequencies,” Sapone says.The airport works directly with local business leaders to identify destination needs and provide data to airlines. Canadian travelers also contribute significantly to traffic, drawn by lower fares and convenient highway access that places the airport 90 minutes from the border. COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES Bishop International Airport’s operational philosophy centers on maintaining one of the lowest cost structures among Michigan airports, a strategy that proved decisive in attracting Allegiant Air’s base operation in 2022. The airport achieved this position by retiring all debt and bonds from previous terminal expansions, freeing capital while keeping per-passenger costs low. “Our cost structure at this airport is among the best in the industry,” Sapone explains. “When you look at our per-passenger and employment costs, we are among the most competitive in the industry. For anyone looking to launch a business or for an airline interested in starting service, getting up and running here is seamless. There’s no major capital investment required, and we take immense pride in keeping our rates low and our business environment easy to work with.” 212 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 10
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