Cherry Capital Airport in its Growth Era

How TVC is juggling flights, terminals, and passengers

By Molly Cox | Jan. 11, 2025

If you’re tired of layering up for another icy-cold day, your hands frozen—even inside those bulky wool mittens—chances are you might be dreaming of lying on a sun-baked beach. A little vacation might be just the thing to escape the Midwest’s coldest, darkest months for a while.

So let’s hop on a plane.

The Local Push

Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) has experienced record growth in recent years, ranking in the top 25 percent of U.S. airports for growth since 2017. It also recently became the third largest airport in Michigan, with Detroit (DTW) in first and Grand Rapids (GRR) in second.

TVC was originally built to accommodate around 350,000 annual passengers, but their final count for 2024 totaled more than 787,000. Because of this growth, in 2026 TVC will break ground on a massive, two-year expansion project. The terminal expansion will add more gates, restrooms, concessions, and increase the baggage and security areas. (Hopefully, this will also mean more flight options for locals.)

“The terminal addition is focused on serving the current passengers. FAA funding formulas do not allow for forecasted growth but to focus on building for the current demand,” says Kevin Klein, CEO of TVC.

But if you’re thinking all of this growth means thousands more tourists have been pouring into TC…think again.

Only about 3 percent of tourists reach their destinations in northern Michigan by plane; the vast majority drive. Though tourism to our area has remained steady—or even decreased slightly in recent years, though it sure doesn’t feel like it in July—business travel is growing in the 35-55 age group of residents for whom TVC is their home airport. In fact, local air travel has doubled and tripled since the 1990s, meaning our local northwest Michigan community has been the driving force behind the TVC’s record-setting numbers.

The type of passengers traveling through TVC remains relatively steady throughout the year, with 60 percent traveling for leisure and 40 percent for business. Business and leisure travel are increasingly combined, with travelers adding extra days to maximize their time at the destination.

Traverse City resident Karla Carrender flies often for work and to visit family. She says, “I truly appreciate the direct flights from Traverse City to Florida, especially during the winter months when I visit my parents on Marco Island. The nonstop flight to Punta Gorda is my lifeline to escape the winter blues. As a frequent traveler, I’ve experienced the stress of weather-related delays and cancellations across the Midwest, so having a direct route is a game changer. It not only makes my trips more convenient, but it also offers peace of mind knowing I can get away from the cold on the weekends with just one easy flight.”

Nonstop Flights & Winter Travel

In addition to its year-round nonstop flights to Chicago (ORD), Detroit (DTW), and Charlotte (CLT), TVC offers four nonstop winter flights to Florida on Allegiant Airlines including Fort Lauderdale, Punta Gorda, Orlando, and Tampa. Nonstop service to Mesa/Phoenix on Allegiant is expected to begin in March—just in time for spring break getaways.

For your late winter/spring break travel, Klein says “the time to book your ticket is now to get the best options and prices.”

What about the danger of a winter storm delaying your flight to warmer shores?

“Although it’s always possible that the weather can impact flight schedules, last year TVC added a new instrument landing system for increased safety and reliability,” says Klein. The technology gives pilots precise navigational guidance, especially in snowy weather or low visibility conditions.

“The runway 10 ILS went into operation December of 2023,” Klein explains. “Since the installation, we have sent zero flight cancellations due to east winds—typical east winds are snowstorms, major thunderstorms etc. Prior to the runway 10 ILS being installed, we saw about 100 cancellations a year. A major improvement.”

Weather related delays and cancellations are, however, still a big challenge for major airports like Chicago’s ORD, so if you’re not able to swing a nonstop flight, allow for extra time in your layover. (Unless you enjoy a Home Alone-style sprint through the airport, of course.)

In the summer months, you can also fly nonstop to Boston, New Haven, New York, Newark, Washington, D.C. (DCA and IAD), Philadelphia, Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, and Phoenix. For those keeping count, that’s a grand total of 20 nonstop flights. Check the airlines’ websites for exact dates, as the flight schedules are fluid.

“The most popular nonstop destinations for summer are Denver and Dallas, so book those tickets early if you can, before the flights fill up,” Klein tells us. “East Coast destinations like New York are also extremely popular in summer.”

How Do We Get More Flights?

Want more nonstop options? The answer, says Klein, is to fly out of TVC, and encourage more visitors to explore our region. “Summer success carries year-round. Bringing more people to Traverse City in the summer ensures there are good flights for us in January; if airlines have full flights in July, they’re more likely to add January flights and take a little bit of a loss.”

According to Klein, there is frequent strategizing happening between different airports on how to get more people traveling to and from their cities. TVC works with the marketing teams at other airports across the country to encourage travelers to fly into Traverse City, and in turn, they promote the northern Michigan region.

To convince airlines to offer new/more flights, TVC researches the target market and presents a case to the target airline on how the proposed flights could fit into their timelines and customers’ demand. The airline’s planners then do a study of their own to make a final decision on the feasibility of adding the new flight.

Klein adds that TVC continuously looks for ways to entice the airlines to offer new, nonstop flights based on feedback from passengers. Sometimes, this is successful; for example, American Airlines added year-round, nonstop, daily flights from Traverse City to Charlotte this year, largely due to the demand from local business travelers.

Looking Ahead

In addition to the new terminal coming in 2026, another update for TVC passengers is that Avelo Airlines will be back at TVC in 2025 with weekly nonstop flights to New Haven, Connecticut. Avelo is the sixth airline operating out of TVC—the others are Allegiant, American, Delta, Sun Country, and United. Klein notes that TVC would also welcome new airlines like Southwest to the airport with open arms.

Another item on the TVC wish list: being able to offer nonstop flights to the West Coast and other highly-requested destinations like Las Vegas.

“It’s important for the public to understand that the airlines set flight schedules, not airports. In fact, airports must compete for the most desirable flights,” Klein says.

If and when that day comes, Klein tells us TVC is equipped to handle larger aircraft that make those longer West Coast flights—or even ones abroad.

“Cherry Capital Airport’s main runway is 7,016 feet,” he explains. “This length is sufficient for the aircraft that serve TVC to reach the West Coast and Europe. TVC is designed for aircraft like the Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Airbus 320, and Airbus 321 series aircraft,” which can seat up to 220 passengers.

TVC Travel Tips

One burning question we had for Klein—how early do people really need to get to Cherry Capital Airport (including parking time) to make their flight?

“I recommend 90 minutes during off-peak times, and two hours during peak times. Baggage check cutoff is 45 minutes before your flight. Even in winter, TVC is bustling with business travelers at peak times, like 6am-7:15am on weekdays,” he says.

When it comes to the actual booking of your flights, Klein suggests planning your trip as far in advance as possible, but notes that you can also score last minute deals on flights if you’re willing to take the risk and be flexible.

Another important travel detail: Airline websites have the most up to date information on which flights are offered, not online travel agencies like Expedia, Kayak, Travelocity, etc. (And rebooking can be a pain through a third party!) The airlines often change their flight schedules to ensure every plane is as full as possible.

Finally, Klein says to make sure you sign up for text or email alerts for your flight to get notified of any changes or delays. Bon voyage!