March 28, 2024

Fly Nearby

Making a quick layover at our regional airports
Sept. 14, 2014

CHERRY CAPITAL AIRPORT

(Traverse City)

Kevin Klein is a fan of sticking it out. As director of Cherry Capital Airport since 2011 – and the assistant director before that – he’s weathered recessions, sequestration and the blowback from 9/11.

But now things are smoothing out, looking up and flying high.

While the number of flights in and out of the Traverse City airport has stayed fairly constant – about 50 to 60 a day in the summertime – the number of passengers has gone up. And, probably as a result, airfares in and out of TVC have gone down, meaning flying in and out of Traverse City makes economic sense again.

Built: 1936

Renovated: New terminal opened in 2004 Major destinations: Nonstop flights are available to Chicago O’Hare, Detroit Metro, Minneapolis (April-December), Atlanta (summer), LaGuardia (summer), Newark (summer) and Denver (summer). Airlines are Delta, American and United.

Federal funds: The airport receives a federal grant that’s based on the number of passengers it serves. ("That’s why it’s important to fly locally," said Klein.) Cherry Capital receives $1.7 million from the Airport Improvement Program. In 2014, the money is being spent on snow removal equipment and plans for an extended runway. There’s also a $4.50 fee on each ticket that is used for capital improvements. The airport doesn’t get any tax money from the City of Traverse City or Grand Traverse County; 46 percent of its revenue comes from parking fees. That way, Klein said, only the people who use the airport pay for the airport.

What’s new: A new fuel vendor, AvFlight, opened in July and competes with Harbor Air, meaning prices have gone down for private and charter planes. Before AvFlight opened, jet fuel cost about $6 a gallon; now it’s between $4 and $5 a gallon.

The busiest time for private and chartered flights is during the Traverse City Film Festival, Klein said. Horse Shows by the Bay also is a big draw (and yes, you can fly a horse).

What’s next: The new air traffic control tower went into service in April 2013 and the old one was torn down in May 2014. The new tower was built with another long-range plan in mind, this one for radar technology that uses satellite data. The technology will be phased in gradually over the next 10 years, Klein said, and, while passengers probably won’t notice any changes, it will help with fuel efficiency, which could result in cheaper airfare.

The airport is also planning to extend its east-west runway, but by how much is yet to be decided. Another 400 feet, towards Garfield Ave., has been approved but only 115 feet may be needed, Klein said.

Klein also hopes to add Dallas to the schedule of nonstop flights, citing golfers and people who work in the oil-and-gas industry as big fans of the plan.

The deal with fares: A quick Internet search found round-trip flights from Traverse City to Orlando for $324; a flight to Detroit costs about $260.

Cherry Capital Airport has no part in deciding airfares ("We’re the landlord and the airlines are the tenant," Klein said.) and Klein has been a longtime student of trying to figure out the airlines’ business models. His advice for getting the best price? Use a travel agent.

"Travel agents can shop the off-peak days and times, combine hotels, use points "¦ You might pay a service fee, but if there’s any disruption, you call the agency and they can help. If you do it on your own, you’re on your own."

PELLSTON REGIONAL AIRPORT

Inside what might arguably be the prettiest terminal in the state is a destination restaurant.

Hoppie’s Landing is outside the secure area and accessible to non-travelers. It’s owned by the family that owns Hoppie’s Tavern on Burt Lake, known for its authentic Mexican food, perch and whitefish. The airport location has much the same menu, cocktails, large-screen TVs and outdoor seating.

Built: Originally in the late 1940s, early 1950s.

Renovated: 2003

Major destinations: Detroit (twice a day) via Delta

Federal funds: $1 million, which goes to all airports that serve more than 10,000 people a year, plus $4.50 surcharge per ticket, which can be used for capital improvements.

What’s new: The terminal was remodeled in 2003 with a log cabin look. A new snow removal and firefighting equipment building was built in 2012.

What’s next: Airport Manager Kelly Atkins is hoping for a new general aviation building. The airport serves lots of private planes in the summer months, he said. "We call them "˜heavy iron,’" he says of the "bigger, sophisticated" planes that are bringing people to Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor, and Burt Lake. "It really ramps up in June, July and August," he said.

Pellston’s airport had a 12 percent increase in commercial passengers through June 2014. In 2013, 54,000 people flew in and out of the airport, Atkins said.

The deal with fares: The lowest round-trip fare we could find for Pellston/Detroit was $308. Fares went up to $983 with short notice. "Timing is an issue," Atkins laughed.

MANISTEE COUNTY BLACKER AIRPORT

Built: The first commercial flight was in 1961.

Renovated: The terminal was built in 2007, but construction is always "ongoing," said Barry Lind, airport director.

Major destinations: Chicago Midway via Public Charters. Flights are twice a day in summer, once a day from September to June. The 19- seat plane leaves Manistee at 8am and returns at 7pm, Lind said. It’s typically busiest on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, coming from Chicago, and Sunday nights and Monday mornings leaving Manistee.

Federal funds: The airport gets $150,000 a year for capital improvements. Public Charters gets a $2.3 million subsidy each year.

What’s new: "It’s status quo," Lind said. "We don’t like a lot of change." That said, a new storage facility for equipment is being built as well as updates to some hangars.

What’s next: Hopefully, more flights, Lind said. Frontier Airlines pulled out in 2012; Public Charters started commercial flights in May 2012.

The deal with fares: Airport officials say the average cost of a round-trip flight between Manistee and Chicago Midway is $186. Weekend flights cost about $211; off-peak flights cost about $180.

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