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 175 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 09 CHERRY CAPITAL AIRPORT
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