Cherry Capital Airport is on track for a big year in 2025, with both August and year-to-date passenger numbers on pace to smash last year’s record-breaking totals. TVC is also constructing a new economy parking lot with 350-plus spaces, establishing its own police force, searching for new tenants for the land around Costco – and competing for USA Today’s “Best Resort Airport” in the U.S. title. All of that is leading up to an even bigger 2026, with the airport set to break ground next spring on its long-planned $120 million terminal expansion.

A record-breaking 141,822 passengers came through Cherry Capital Airport in August. That’s up 19.4 percent over 2024, which was itself a record-breaking year with 118,771 passengers. August passenger numbers in 2024 were 11.3 percent higher than 2023, showing a continued trend of growth. “When we look at the seats in the market, that pretty much means everything was full,” says Cherry Capital Airport CEO Kevin Klein of this year’s tally. “We had a really great summer.”

Klein says TVC is up more than 21 percent on passenger traffic for the year so far compared to 2024. Considering that a record-breaking 787,114 passengers came through the airport in 2024 – and that TVC is already at 674,088 passengers for 2025 – “we’re probably going to beat that record,” he says. “What’s driving it is the community. We’re seeing our community fly more and outpace what our tourists are doing.”

Several projects are underway at the airport to keep pace with the passenger growth. TVC recently hired its first-ever police chief, Joe FitzGerald, and is in the process of building out its police force – a federal requirement due to the airport’s growing size. At their 3pm meeting today (Tuesday), the Northwest Regional Airport Authority (NRAA) board will approve mutual aid agreements between the airport’s new police force and the Traverse City Police Department and Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office.

The NRAA board will also approve signage and security camera contracts for a new 350-plus economy parking lot under construction at the airport north of Costco. The $3 million project, which broke ground two weeks ago, is expected to be complete around Thanksgiving and in operation by the first of the year, Klein says. The result will be an automated lot – different than the airport’s current short-term and long-term lots, which are managed – with a shuttle system circulating passengers between the lot and terminal.

More items are on today’s NRAA board agenda related to TVC growth. Members will consider approving a contract extension with Max Goldman of Landmark Commercial Real Estate Services for another year to continue marketing 40-plus acres of property by Costco along South Airport Road. Goldman was the broker that brought Costco to the airport property, according to Klein. A technology and logistics park proposed last year for the site fell through, with Goldman to continue work on “locating potential tenants” for the available acreage, Klein says.

NRAA board members will consider approving a $12,000 contract with Gosling-Czubak for design and bidding services for a soil remediation project at TVC. The project calls for removing approximately 4,000 cubic yards of PFAS-impacted soil near the area where the airport’s planned $120 million expansion is set to begin next year. The NRAA has applied for state funding for the clean-up work but can’t delay moving forward given the looming expansion. Klein says the plan is for TVC to pay for the design work now and use the state grant funding – if approved – for the actual clean-up work.

That should put TVC on track to put “shovels in the ground” next spring as soon as the frost is gone, Klein says. The terminal project will add five new gates, a relocated and expanded security checkpoint area, expanded outbound baggage area, more restrooms and amenities, and new concession areas. Half of the project is federally funded, with the other half to be bonded and/or potentially partially funded through a Build America Bureau loan, Klein says. Construction impacts are expected to be minimal on passengers except during the summer months of 2026 and 2027, when some temporary gates and ground boarding of aircraft may be required, he notes. NRAA board members will vote today to select a name for the expansion project – which is planned to be complete by spring 2028 – from two candidates: Project TVC – Transforming Vision for the Community or TVC: Gates to the Future.

With all the momentum underway, Cherry Capital Airport is hoping to put one more notch in its belt this year: the title of “Best Resort Airport” in the country. TVC is one of 10 candidates in the running for the title from USA Today and its 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, with readers selecting the ultimate winner. Klein says the airport is encouraging supporters to vote daily for TVC through the October 6 deadline. TVC is up against airports in destinations like Aspen, Jackson Hole, Hilton Head, Key West, Palm Springs, and Nantucket for the title.