Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) experienced its busiest September on record last month, as www.traverseticker.com reported. The local aviation hub processed 92,786 passengers, marking a new milestone for the month. This impressive figure represents an 8.3 percent increase from the totals seen in September 2025. Year-to-date, TVC has welcomed 768,173 passengers, which is a 1.1 percent rise over last year's record-setting pace. This sustained growth positions the airport to potentially surpass 1 million annual passengers for the first time in its operational history.
Kevin Klein, CEO of Cherry Capital, noted that the September passenger volume mirrored levels typically observed during the peak summer travel season. Addressing the Northwest Regional Airport Authority Board this week, Klein expressed his astonishment, telling www.traverseticker.com, "To have this in September is amazing."
United Airlines, which serves as TVC’s busiest air carrier, was responsible for more than 44 percent of the total monthly passenger load. This translated to just over 41,000 passengers either arriving at or departing from the airport via United. Following closely, American Airlines handled over 28,000 travelers. Delta Airlines also contributed significantly to the month's traffic, accounting for approximately 22,000 travelers.
Beyond passenger numbers, other key activity metrics at the airport also saw notable increases for the month, as reported by Klein. Fuel sales experienced a nearly 33 percent surge compared to last September, reaching just over 642,000 gallons. This brings the total year-to-date fuel sales to just under 5 million gallons, maintaining a pace consistent with last year's figures. Cargo movement through TVC also saw substantial growth, increasing 35 percent from last September to over 199,000 pounds. The year-to-date cargo totals have now reached just under 1.5 million pounds, representing almost 15 percent of last year’s volume. Furthermore, the airport’s tower count, which meticulously tracks all flight activity at TVC, rose by 5.5 percent from last September, logging 65,236 operations.
These comprehensive figures underscore a period of robust activity and expansion for Cherry Capital Airport. The consistent climb in passenger traffic, alongside significant increases in fuel sales, cargo operations, and overall flight activity, highlights TVC's growing role as a vital transportation hub for the region. The airport’s trajectory toward its first million-passenger year signals continued economic and travel vitality for Grand Traverse and surrounding counties.