TVC off to fast start in '24

Bill O'Brien, The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.
·2 min read

Apr. 23—TRAVERSE CITY — Passenger traffic at Cherry Capital Airport is off to another fast start in 2024 as the airport looks to build on its record travel year.

The airport's operational report for the 2024 first quarter through March shows an increase of just over 7 percent in passenger counts compared to 2023, when the airport hit an all-time record at year's end of 700,699 travelers going in and out of the facility. First quarter passenger counts for the four airlines in service — Delta, United, American and Allegiant — totaled 123,940. That's up from the 115,777 travelers recorded in the first quarter of 2023.

Flight operations at TVC- the number of aircraft landing and taking off — are about equal to 2023 totals. That means the higher passenger counts are being driven by larger aircraft serving the region. Airport CEO Kevin Klein said many of the 76-seat regional jets are being replaced with larger Airbus 319 and 320 aircraft, and Boeing 727 jets, which can carry up to twice as many passengers as the regional jets.

"We're seeing a few more flights, but what's driving the numbers is the bigger aircraft," Klein said.

Klein is confident that the travel surge will continue into the summer and beyond with three new seasonal non-stop flights coming on line this spring and summer. Allegiant will bring the airport's first direct flights to Fort Lauderdale in Florida starting May 17, while Avelo Airlines will make its northern Michigan debut on June 15 with weekly seasonal service to New Haven, Conn. United Airlines will also expand its offerings with direct seasonal flights to Houston starting June 29.

"We have three new direct flights that are going to help boost those numbers," Klein said.

Fuel sales at the airport also saw a healthy boost in the first quarter, increasing some 7.5 percent from last year to 10,635 gallons of aviation fuel. Klein said that's also related to the larger aircraft being used by the airlines.

Cargo movement through the airport continues to lag so far this year. First quarter cargo movement totaled just over 405,000 pounds through various carriers including Federal Express and UPS. That's down more than 12 percent from last year and reflects a nation-wide trend in cargo shipping that's been declining since its peak during the COVID pandemic two years ago.

"The cargo isn't surprising to me," Klein said. "That's pretty much going on nationwide."

Klein is confident the airport will challenge last year's record passenger year as its continues to add more seasonal non-stop flight service and the use of larger aircraft to serve the region. Once the three new seasonal flights begin in May and June, TVC will offer 20 non-stop flights through six different airlines.

"Not many airports our size can say that," Klein said.