There Are 15 Michigan Airports That Offer Commercial Flights
When it comes to airports in Michigan, you probably think of bigger ones you may have flown out of in the past like Detroit Metro. There are many, many more, ranging from other international airports to smaller, regional ones.
So with how many airports there are here in Michigan, did you know only 15 of them offer commercial flights?
How many airports are there in Michigan?
According to Official USA, there are a grand total of 221 public airports in Michigan and 126 private airports. However, the term "public airport" can mean something different in the aviation world than just anyone being able to just show up there whenever you feel like it.
According to the FAA there are different levels of categorization an airport can receive: "The law categorizes airports by type of activities, including commercial service, primary, cargo service, reliever, and general aviation airports..."
How many people fly out of Michigan each year?
With all these airports in Michigan, Official USA reports on average, the total passenger count is over 20 million annually.
This makes up about 2.4 percent of all air traffic in the United States. The percentage of total air traffic also contributes to the FAA classifications an airport may receive.
Where are the largest commercial airports?
When talking about the "largest" airports, there are two lines of thought: the biggest by volume of passengers and the biggest by physical size.
As far as the largest airport in the U.S. by physical size goes, Air Advisor says that would be the Denver International Airport. Michigan's own Detroit Metro actually ranks 10th in the nation in size.
When looking at "biggest" by passengers and traffic, ClaimCompass reports that would be Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport as it is a major hub for connections.
No matter what your definition of "biggest" is, most of the commercial airports in Michigan wouldn't make the list. They will still get you where you need to go, though. Let's take a look at the 15 Michigan airports that offer commercial flights.
1. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
We'll kick things off with Michigan's biggest, busiest and probably most familiar airport, good old "Detroit Metro." While it is the 10th largest airport by size in the United States, it also ranks among the 20 busiest, according to GetByBus.
Airlines serviced from this airport are: Air Canada, Air France, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Southwest, Spirit and United. For more information, visit the DTW airline directory.
2. Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
Located near Grand Rapids, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, per GetByBus, services an average of 3.5 million passengers a year. While there are no non-stop international flights, they do fly non-stop to 30 cities including year-round flights to Las Vegas as well as seasonal flights to Los Angeles and Portland.
Airlines serviced from this airport, per the Gerald R. Ford tenant directory, are Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest and United.
3. Lansing Capital City Airport (LAN)
Also referred to as "Capital Region International Airport," this airport is located in the Lansing, Michigan area.
Airlines and destinations from here, per the "Fly Lansing" website, include American Airlines to Washington D.C. and Chicago, Apple Vacations to Cancun and Punta Cana, and Delta Airlines to Detroit and Minneapolis.
4. Bishop International Airport (FNT)
Located near Flint, this airport is not all too far from Detroit Metropolitan but is a bit smaller, which makes for a little bit easier time getting through.
From FNT, per the Bishop International Airport website, you can fly via American Airlines daily to Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina, via United to Chicago and via Delta to Atlanta. You can also fly to destinations like Boston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Vegas, Tampa Bay, Orlando, Punta Gorda, Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale, Nashville and Phoenix via Allegiant Airlines.
5. Cherry Capital Airport (TVC)
Located near Traverse City, TVC mainly flies to Detroit and Chicago; however, there are also flights to Orlando, St. Petersburg and Phoenix.
In 2021, per the TVC Airport website, 602,626 passengers made it to their destinations via American Airlines, Delta, United and Allegiant Air.
6. Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Airport (AZO)
Currently, per the AZO website's FAQ page, there are three airlines that service passengers out of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Areas.
Those airlines are American, Delta and United with service to Chicago and Detroit.
7. Midland International Airport (MBS)
Located in Saginaw, MBS International Airport offers flights to Chicago and Detroit via Delta and United Airlines.
You can check out the MBS International Airport website for more information.
8. Sawyer International Airport (MQT)
Yes, there are commercial airports in Michigan's Upper Peninsula! One of them is Sawyer International Airport, located near Marquette.
Using regional jets with a 50-seat capacity, airlines listed on the MQT website are Delta Airlines with service to Detroit as well as Minneapolis/St. Paul and American Airlines with service to Chicago.
9. Pellston Regional Airport (PLN)
Located near Pellston, Michigan, PLN's claim to fame is being the "closest airport to Mackinac Island," per the Pellston Regional Airport website.
Passengers can utilize SkyWest Airlines (operating as Delta) to fly from Pellston to Detroit.
10. Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX)
Located within Houghton County on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's U.P., Houghton County Memorial Airport's claim to fame is being "Michigan's northernmost airport."
According to the Houghton County Memorial Airport website, they service between 50,000 to 55,000 passengers per year with Unites Airlines flights from Calumet to Chicago.
11. Chippewa County International Airport (CIU)
Located near Sault Ste. Marie in Kincheloe, Michigan, the Chippewa County International Airport website states they provide "daily non-stop round trips to and from Detroit Metro and Minneapolis-St. Paul" via Delta Airlines.
12. Muskegon County Airport (MKG)
With its location in West Michigan, according to the Muskegon County Airport website, a flight to Chicago takes about 35 minutes.
Serviced by United Airlines, there are actually two flights a day taking passengers from Muskegon County to Chicago O'Hare.
13. Delta County Airport (ESC)
Located in Escanaba, also in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Delta County Airport's website states they are serviced by Delta Air Lines with flights to Detroit.
In June of 2021, ESC announced additional flights to Minneapolis as well.
14. Iron Mountain Airport (IMT)
Also referred to as "Ford Airport" in Kingsford, Michigan, IMT's website states, "We currently offer Non-Stop Airline Service to Minneapolis/St Paul, MN and Detroit, MI."
Passengers flying those routes are serviced by Delta Air Lines, but they are operated by SkyWest.
15. Alpena County Regional Airport (APN)
According to the Alpena County Regional Airport website, not only does SkyWest Airlines (operating as Delta) provide service to Detroit from Alpena, but the airport also is host to one of the country's four National Guard Combat Readiness Training Centers (CRTC).