Cherry Capital Airport

Cherry Capital Airport was opened in 1936 as Traverse City Airport, replacing Ransom Field.{{Cite web |url = https://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/historical-photo/article_ee237c70-e122-52c9-840d-b131aa30942a.html/ |title = Timeline |date = January 26, 2015 |publisher = Traverse Area Historical Society |access-date = September 15, 2019 |language = en-US }} The airport was moved onto the Coast Guard Air Station, which at the time was a naval air station that had opened in 1946. The airport opened with four runways, all but one of which have been replaced. Remnants of the former runways exist to this day, with some being left abandoned and privately owned.

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In the fall of 2004, Cherry Capital opened a new terminal on the south side of the east–west runway, demolishing the old one on the north side. This project also reconfigured the runways, marking the removal of the third diagonal runway. Since then, Cherry Capital Airport has continued to grow with various carriers adding seasonal service and destinations.{{cite web |publisher = Cherry Capital Airport |title = New State-of-the-Art Terminal |url = http://www.tvcairport.com/terminal.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928124940/http://www.tvcairport.com/terminal.htm |archive-date = September 28, 2007 }}

Cherry Capital Airport was the recipient of the 2003–04, 2004–05, and 2005–06 Balchen/Post Awards for outstanding achievement in snow and ice control in the small commercial service airport category.{{cite web |author = Northeast Chapter |publisher = American Association of Airport Executives |url = http://www.necaaae.org/cfiles/ne_balchen_03_04.php |title = 2003–2004 Balchen/Post Awards |date = May 12, 2004 |access-date = June 6, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100924154704/http://www.necaaae.org/cfiles/ne_balchen_03_04.php |archive-date = September 24, 2010 |df = mdy-all }}{{cite web |author = Northeast Chapter |publisher = American Association of Airport Executives |url = http://www.necaaae.org/cfiles/ne_balchen_04_05.php |title = 2004–2005 Balchen/Post Awards |date = April 27, 2005 |access-date = June 6, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100924150423/http://www.necaaae.org/cfiles/ne_balchen_04_05.php |archive-date = September 24, 2010 |df = mdy-all }}{{cite web |author = Northeast Chapter |publisher = American Association of Airport Executives |url = http://www.necaaae.org/cfiles/ne_balchen_05_06.php |title = 2005–2006 Balchen/Post Awards |date = April 26, 2006 |access-date = June 6, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100924154850/http://www.necaaae.org/cfiles/ne_balchen_05_06.php |archive-date = September 24, 2010 |df = mdy-all }} Soon,{{when|date=February 2011}} the airport will implement the first biometric access systems in the country. The airport is the ninth to implement the advanced security measures suggested after the September 11, 2001, attacks. This terminal is able to comply better with security regulations and supports a greater number of flights and passengers.

In 2013 and 2017, the airport extended the east–west runway to accommodate more flights to more locations, possibly to upgrade to an international airport for Air Canada Express flights.{{cite web |url = http://www.tvcairport.com/runway-28-project.php |title = Runway 28 Project |publisher = Cherry Capital Airport |access-date = November 6, 2017 }}{{cite web |url = http://www.tcbusinessnews.com/tvc-continues-runway-improvements/ |work = Traverse City Business News |title = TVC Continues Runway Improvements |access-date = November 6, 2017 }}

In October 2017, a Costco store opened next to the airport entrance on a property leased to the warehouse chain for 60 years.{{cite web |url = https://www.costco.com/warehouse-locations/traverse-city-mi-1279.html |title = Traverse City Costco Warehouse |publisher = Costco |access-date = November 6, 2017 }}

The airport saw upgrades to its parking lot and TSA checkpoint in 2022. This allowed for an additional 424 parking spots and a third TSA checkpoint line that can accommodate modern screening technology. The airport also added a hybrid USO location to assist soldiers traveling through.{{Cite web |title=Parking lot expansion, TSA upgrades made at Cherry Capital Airport

|url=https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/parking-lot-expansion-tsa-upgrades-made-at-cherry-capital-airport|access-date=2022-11-09 | website=Up North Live|date=June 2022 }}

Also in 2022, the Northwest Regional Airport Authority was established to operate the airport, after years of operation by Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties.

The airport received $14 million in 2020 as part of the federal CARES act to help it maintain operations and complete upgrades during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |title=Feds drop financial fuel to Michigan airports|url=https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/feds-drop-financial-fuel-to-michigan-airports|access-date=2022-11-17 | website=Up North Live|date=April 14, 2020 }}

The airport set passenger records in 2021 and 2022 despite a drop in the number of flights passing through, making it the No. 3 airport in Michigan.{{Cite web |title=Record breaking year for Cherry Capital Airport

|url=https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/record-breaking-year-for-cherry-capital-airport|access-date=2022-11-09 | website=Up North Live|date=January 26, 2022 }}

The airport was host to campaign events held by gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon during the 2022 midterm elections.{{Cite web |title=GOVERNOR'S RACE: Dixon campaigns in Traverse City

|url=https://www.record-eagle.com/news/governors-race-dixon-campaigns-in-traverse-city/article_d2429034-5a46-11ed-b262-d397e6445971.html|access-date=2022-11-09 | website=Traverse City Record Eagle|date=November 2, 2022 }}

In February 2023, Cherry Capital Airport was selected as a recipient of a $5 million grant under the Airport Terminals Program, a component of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, to replace its passenger jetways to modernize the boarding process.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Cherry Capital Airport gets $5M ro replace bridges |url=https://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/cherry-capital-airport-gets-5m-ro-replace-bridges/article_8ca18f4e-b6e4-11ed-aa40-2f11df367f3d.html |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Traverse City Record-Eagle |date= February 27, 2023|language=en}}{{cite web |title=FY2023 Airport Terminal Program Final Selections |url=https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2023-02/FY2023_ATP_Approved_Selections02272023.pdf |website=Federal Aviation Administration |date=27 February 2023 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227172930/https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2023-02/FY2023_ATP_Approved_Selections02272023.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2023}}

The Airport has one concourse with six gates. Cherry Capital Airport covers an area of {{convert|1026|acre|ha}} at an elevation of {{convert|624|ft|m}} above mean sea level. It has two asphalt paved runways: 10/28 is {{convert|7,016|by|150|ft|m}} and 18/36 is {{convert|5,378|by|150|ft|m}}.{{FAA-airport|ID=TVC|use=PU|own=PU|site=10379.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. effective November 10, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/TVC/Cherry-Capital-Airport|title=TVC airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com|access-date=September 23, 2022}}

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 101,106 aircraft operations, an average of 277 per day: 75% general aviation, 11% scheduled commercial, 8% air taxi, and 6% military. At that time, there were 125 aircraft based at this airport: 98 single-engine and 15 multi-engine airplanes, 5 helicopters, and 7 jets.

In February 2009, Forbes magazine ranked Cherry Capital Airport second in their list of the top ten "rip-off" airports in the United States, citing an average cost per mile to travelers departing TVC of 41 cents.{{cite web |url = https://www.forbes.com/2009/02/15/airports-travel-regional-lifestyle-travel_0216_airports.html |title = America's Rip-Off Airports |work = Forbes |date = February 16, 2009 }}

The airport has one fixed-base operator, AvFlight.

The Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) serves the airport terminal and links to downtown Traverse City as well as other locations in the surrounding area.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bata.net/maps-schedules/village-loops.html|title=Village Loops: 10 - 16 |publisher=Bay Area Transportation Authority|access-date=2019-02-16}}

{{Airport destination list

| Allegiant Air | Fort Lauderdale,{{cite web|last=Champion|first=Brandon|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/2023/11/northern-michigan-airport-adds-non-stop-flights-to-florida-vacation-spot.html|title= Northern Michigan airport adds non-stop flights to Florida vacation spot] Allegiant adds 12 new routes, 1 new airport with intro fares from $49 one-way|website=mLive|date= November 16, 2023|access-date=November 16, 2023}} Phoenix/Mesa, St. Petersburg/Clearwater
Seasonal: Orlando/Sanford,{{cn|date=June 2025}} Punta Gorda (FL){{cn|date=June 2025}}

| American Airlines | Seasonal: Charlotte,{{cn|date=June 2025}} Dallas/Fort Worth,{{cn|date=June 2025}} Washington–National{{cn|date=June 2025}}

| American Eagle | Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare
Seasonal: Boston,{{cn|date=June 2025}} Dallas/Fort Worth,{{cn|date=June 2025}} New York–LaGuardia,{{cn|date=June 2025}} Philadelphia{{cn|date=June 2025}}

| Avelo Airlines| Seasonal: New Haven{{cite news|url=https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/avelo-3-new-routes-tweed-new-haven-19264536.php?fbclid=IwAR25EXJ9iupyPZSWg-BEpX_qH5vjAMcRRFPHJoP6P3G82Lp1iP_F2WLy7O4|title=Avelo announces 3 new routes from Tweed New Haven Airport: Houston, St. Louis and Traverse City, Mich.|website=New Haven Register|date=March 20, 2024|access-date=March 20, 2024|last1=Zaretsky|first1=Mark}}

| {{nowrap|Delta Air Lines}} |Detroit
Seasonal: Atlanta,{{cn|date=June 2025}} Minneapolis/St. Paul,{{cn|date=June 2025}} New York–LaGuardia{{cn|date=June 2025}}

| {{nowrap|Delta Connection}} | Detroit
Seasonal: Boston,{{cn|date=June 2025}} Minneapolis/St. Paul{{cn|date=June 2025}}

| {{nowrap|JetBlue}} | Seasonal: Boston (begins June 5, 2025){{cite web| url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115533992/en/JetBlue-Enhances-Summer-Travel-with-New-Routes-and-Destinations-Strengthening-its-East-Coast-Network | title=JetBlue Enhances Summer Travel with New Routes and Destinations, Strengthening its East Coast Network |website=Business Wire | date=January 15, 2025 }}

| {{nowrap|Sun Country Airlines}} | Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul{{cn|date=June 2025}}

| United Airlines | Chicago–O'Hare
Seasonal: Denver,{{cn|date=June 2025}} Washington–Dulles{{cn|date=June 2025}}

| United Express | Chicago–O'Hare
Seasonal: Denver,{{cn|date=June 2025}} Houston–Intercontinental,{{cite web | url=https://www.traverseticker.com/news/cherry-capital-airport-adds-direct-service-to-houston/ | title=Cherry Capital Airport Adds Direct Service to Houston }} Newark{{cn|date=June 2025}}

}}

• Pinnacle Airlines Flight 4712 was a Bombardier CRJ200 from Minneapolis-St. Paul, which overran the runway while landing at TVC during a snowstorm on April 12, 2007. In its Report to Congress, the National Transportation Safety Board wrote that "the aircraft received substantial damage, but the 52 people on board were not injured. The Board determined that the probable cause of this accident was the pilots' decision to land at TVC without performing a landing distance assessment, which was required by company policy. This poor decision-making likely reflected the effects of fatigue produced by a long, demanding duty day, and, for the captain, the duties associated with performing check airman functions. Contributing to the accident were the Federal Aviation Administration pilot flight and duty time regulations that permitted the pilots' long, demanding duty day and the TVC operations supervisor's use of ambiguous and unspecific radio phraseology in providing runway braking information. Four safety recommendations were issued to the FAA addressing timely post-accident drug testing, training on landing distance assessment performance, ground operations personnel communications, and criteria for runway closures in snow and ice conditions. The NTSB adopted the report on June 10, 2008."{{cite web |publisher = National Transportation Safety Board |title = 2008 Annual Report to Congress |url = https://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2009/SPC0901.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090814010612/http://ntsb.gov/publictn/2009/SPC0901.pdf |archive-date = August 14, 2009 }}

• List of airports in Michigan

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.tvcairport.com/}}
• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928170207/http://mich.gov/documents/Tvc_20009_7.pdf |date=September 28, 2011 |title=Traverse City, Cherry Capital (TVC)] page }} from [http://www.michigan.gov/aero/0,4533,7-145-6777_7036---,00.html Michigan Bureau of Aeronautics]
• * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929161103/http://ktvc.rrfaae.com/ |date=September 29, 2007 |title=KTVC Forums }}
• [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?placesearch=Traverse%20City%20-%20Cherry%20Capital%20%28Municipal%29%20%28TVC%20%2F%20KTVC%29&distinct_entry=true Aviation photos: Traverse City - Cherry Capital (Municipal) (TVC / KTVC)] from Airliners.net
• [http://msrmaps.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=12&lat=44.7429&lon=-85.5791&w=850&h=550&lp=---+None+--- Aerial image as of 27 April 1998] from USGS The National Map
• {{FAA-diagram|00425}}
• {{FAA-procedures|TVC}}

{{US-airport|TVC}}

{{Traverse City, Michigan}}

{{Airports in Michigan|state=collapsed}}

{{Northern Michigan}}

Category:Airports in Michigan

Category:Buildings and structures in Grand Traverse County, Michigan

Category:Transportation in Grand Traverse County, Michigan

Category:Traverse City, Michigan