The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved a new governance structure Friday for Cherry Capital Airport, clearing the way for the airport to become a regional airport authority.

Since the mid-1990s, Grand Traverse County and Leelanau County have jointly owned and operated the Cherry Capital Airport through an airport commission structure. The counties and airport commission supported the move to a new model and recently made appointments to the new authority board. According to consultant Steven Baldwin Associates, which advised the airport commission on a possible reorganization, moving to an authority will give the airport greater autonomy and nimbleness in operations and decision-making. That includes being able to buy and sell property, control its own zoning, better focus on airport business priorities, and set standards for board members, including establishing a criteria of expertise and a process for removing members if necessary.
 
"This is an exciting and important day for our region and our airport," said Douglas DeYoung, board chair of the new Northwest Regional Airport Authority (NRAA) and former chair of the Northwestern Regional Airport Commission (NRAC). "The transfer to an independent regional authority has been a goal for our airport since we began strategic planning efforts in 2017. The authority structure will allow the airport to continue to flourish and grow, especially regarding new avenues of revenue and efficiencies of operation."

Kevin Klein, chief executive officer of Cherry Capital Airport and the NRAA, said the transition to an independent authority will take the airport to "new heights," adding that the structure "will allow for greater focus on key strategic initiatives that make our airport the premier gateway to northern Michigan."