Taking Off: The latest TVC news from its Director of Air Service Development
November 2025
Autumn MacClaren is Cherry Capital Airport’s (relatively) new director of air service development and marketing, and shares with the TCBN the inside scoop on the latest booming growth at TVC, which airline routes are staying and going this winter, and more.
TCBN: Well, we’re used to hearing from [airport director] Kevin [Klein], but delighted to hear from you!
MacClaren: Yes! I started the first week in January, but didn’t move up here until June. I was going back and forth between [here and] downstate the first six months. My job is really fun and changes day-to-day. I work with the airlines on new routes and expanding our awesome existing routes and finding new ways to grow those.
TCBN: I’m guessing you’re basically working with just four to five people – those contacts at each major carrier?
MacClaren: Yes, maintaining those relationships. It’s similar to the role I had at Flint Bishop Airport: gathering the data and telling the story of where our airport needs to go and where we’re headed in terms of our area’s growth and events. It’s an interesting way to dive into the community through that lens.
TCBN: What would be an example of that?
MacClaren: Well, looking at our Dallas route or showing where people are connecting through Chicago or Charlotte. Talking about the big [Traverse City Horse Shows] event here and how the leisure travel demand has grown, but also that our shoulder seasons have really taken off as our local residents are traveling more in the winter.
TCBN: I know it’s very, very competitive with the airlines, and you’re bringing a better story because we’re growing, versus places in decline. So is, say, Milwaukee aiport’s representative coming in as you’re leaving a meeting at an airline?
MacClaren: It’s hard to even get in front of those people at the airlines. There are literally thousands of airports requesting time with them. So, you’re building relationships, setting yourself apart. Even something as small as sending them Traverse City cherry pie, checking in when you have a new data point or something really cool like a new event happening here.
TCBN: Switching gears, how did our busy summer turn out at the airport?
MacClaren: It was my first summer here. I had heard about it before, but it was pretty wild. Seeing the growth firsthand, we are definitely bursting at the seams. Our new terminal can’t come fast enough. I just loved seeing the team come together and seeing Kevin out there actually throwing bags to make sure we get through this phase before the new addition. It was a very cool thing to witness. We had a lot of weather events, too, which always impact the flight schedule here. But I enjoyed working with the whole team here on all those operational challenges.
TCBN: Do you have the passenger numbers for August? Did you set another record?
MacClaren: Yes. We’ve had 674,088 total passengers January-August, which is up 21.7% versus last year. For August we were up 19% versus last August.
TCBN: How are the airlines doing individually?
MacClaren: United has grown really nicely. Delta has remained steady. American has really grown here. Allegiant is up 35% year-over-year. Sun Country has been steady. Avelo is up. And we added Jet Blue. So really all our carriers are up except Delta and Sun Country, which have been holding steady.
TCBN: How are fall and the holidays looking?
MacClaren: I can’t see future bookings, but I can see seat availability, and the coolest part I think is United is now extended to Denver until December 1, which is a huge extension. It was Jet Blue’s first summer here and they’re now going to Boston through October 23. Charlotte was a year-round route through [a Michigan Department of Transportation] grant. That grant ended, but the season is actually longer than it was prior and now ends November 2 and returns May 1. So more seats in our market overall, which is so important.
TCBN: How about spring break routes and seats?
MacClaren: Allegiant released their schedule and they’ll return in October and go through May 1 and they added seats to their Florida markets, where last year was a record year. Arizona is back, and returns March 19.
TCBN: Is the parking situation fixed now?
MacClaren: Even in September, a traditionally slower travel month, our statistics are showing people out there traveling and our parking lots are still full. So we broke ground on Labor Day on our $3 million economy lot, which will add another 360 spots. That should be ready to go around spring break time.
TCBN: This growth and the need for expansion ... it seemed sort of sudden to many, but I’m sure Kevin saw it building over the years.
MacClaren: He saw it coming, definitely. And now it’s happening and can’t come fast enough. We needed it years ago, really.
TCBN: What’s the update and how will travelers be most affected during the construction?
MacClaren: We will have shovels in the ground in the spring, which is so great. There will definitely be some pains throughout that process, but we have a team here working on a plan during construction to make sure we accommodate travelers. I think the gates and the space in the terminal will be most affected, but as I said, we’re building a plan to minimize how much people are affected.
TCBN: What else is new?
MacClaren: Our new police department [mandated due to airport traffic] is getting up and running, and we’re ahead of schedule on that. Joe Fitzgerald is our new captain, and he’s here and the new station is under construction now [near] the car rental area. There’s lots going on, as always!
