Cherry Capital Airport continues to add flights to its roster ahead of the summer tourist season.
Beginning June 15, Avelo Airlines will begin a nonstop service to New Haven, Connecticut on Saturdays. It's a seasonal flight that will last until Labor Day.
Airport Director Kevin Klein said it will bring more tourists to northern Michigan and open up a door to New England for residents
“The reaction for a lot of travelers was, 'I have family out that way,'" Klein said. "That's what I heard multiple times today: 'I've got family and friends that are in the Connecticut area.'”
Avelo is offering introductory flights until the end of July starting at $62 - not including additional fees.
“The addition of Avelo to the TVC airline portfolio is a testament to regional teamwork and collaboration," said Traverse City Tourism CEO Trevor Tkach in a press release. "Traverse City Tourism is pleased to see that our commitment to helping grow air service continues to pay off and we are excited to welcome new arrivals from Connecticut this summer.”
TVC is the abbreviation for Traverse City's airport.
Klein says the airport continues to grow with over 40 percent of passenger traffic taking place in the summer months.
Last month, the airport announced direct service between Traverse City and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) through United Airlines.
The announcements come as the airport continues to feud with the National Cherry Festival over the organization of the annual airshow during the busy festival weekend.
The airport has said the airshow and its practice drills will cancel more flights than in previous years. Cherry Festival staff, meanwhile, say the airport does not have the authority to redirect the airshow — that it's regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
At a recent Northwest Regional Airport Authority meeting, both parties agreed to continue working toward a solution.
