Across the state or around the globe
Two nearby airports complement each other’s mission
Jack Barstow Municipal Airport and MBS International Airport each provide different levels of service to the MPO region and surrounding areas.
These airports can have significant economic and social benefits for all communities in the area. They improve connectivity, providing mid-Michigan with faster travel to other cities, regions, and countries. This can lead to increased tourism, trade, and business opportunities.
Furthermore, they can create jobs in a range of industries, including aviation, hospitality, and transportation. This can have a positive impact on the local economy by providing new employment opportunities and contributing to the tax base. This, in turn, creates the environment for increased investment: airports can attract new businesses and investment to the area, as companies are more likely to invest in regions with good transportation links.
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Located in the City of Midland, Jack Barstow Municipal Airport primarily supports small aircraft for recreation and business use. The airfield encompasses over 500 acres and serves the needs of approximately 100 pilots. There are two runways that accommodate takeoff and landing configurations and various sizes of small aircraft. The airport handles roughly 20,000 operations per year (take-offs and landings) and includes about 40 on-site hangars.
A 2,100 square foot terminal building is centrally located within the air- field at the end of Barstow Drive. The terminal includes a pilot’s lounge, a conference room, and an aviation weather service to assist with flight planning. In 2015, Jack Barstow Airport was named Airport of the Year by the Michigan Department of Transportation - Office of Aeronautics. It was recognized for its efforts in promoting general aviation with the development of an observation and education gateway project.
Jack Barstow Airport is funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and State of Michigan who provide the majority of funding for capital improvements. Generally, the City of Midland is responsible for a 2.5% share regarding the total cost of projects. Additional funds help finance airport operations such as hangar rentals, land lease rentals, and aircraft fuel sales.
Automated Weather Observation System
Operational as of April 2009, AWOS has put Midland on the National Weather Service map. This data-gathering system allows pilots to get up-to-the-minute data about the weather in mid-Michigan, and helps ensure safe takeoffs and landings.
Aviation Camp
Each summer, teens have the chance to learn about the wonderful world of flying through the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Aviation Camp at Jack Barstow Airport. This 5 day day camp is open to teens entering 10th - 12th grades in the fall, and offers a variety of information on:
Aeronautics
Aircraft
Airports
Aviation history
Occupations in aviation
Weather
And much more
A local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is located at Barstow Airport. Through the EAA’s Young Eagles program, annual aviation camps are held at the airport to educate youth.
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MBS International Airport is owned by the City of Midland, County of Bay and City of Saginaw and is governed by a nine-member commission made up of three representatives from each community. Representatives are appointed to the commission by the representing government entity. The commission meets monthly, and the public is welcome to attend meetings. Formerly known as Tri-City Airport, the name was changed in 1994 to avoid confusion with other similarly named airports around the country. It is centrally located between the 3 municipalities it serves.
MBS mainly provides transportation to those living throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region. The airport supports 27 home-based aircraft which includes 13 single-engine, five multi-engine, and nine jet-engine aircraft. Approximately 50,000 flight operations are handled annually (take-offs and landings) with two runways of 8,002 feet and 6,400 feet length respectively. MBS Airport’s recently constructed new terminal building is about 75,000 square feet. The two-story facility contains amenities such as various concession options, an efficient baggage claim, and convenient parking. In addition, due to the presence of a United States Customs and Border Protection office onsite, MBS is a true International airport.
In 2016 MBS approved a master plan targeting $100 million in airport projects over a 20 year span. Projects include new pavement construction and rehabilitation, rental car and maintenance facilities upgrades, as well as improvements to general/private aviation development. Click here for the 2016 MBS Master Plan.
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The graph above shows trends in passenger counts for several Michigan regional airports, including MBS. Comparing passenger counts between different regional airports in Michigan can provide valuable insights into economic development, transportation infrastructure, airline market share, and funding allocation. By analyzing these trends, policymakers and industry stakeholders can make informed decisions to support the growth and development of regional airports and the broader transportation ecosystem.
Although this graph is time-limited to 2020, it shows that for at least the past decade passenger counts at MBS have been relatively stable, and reflects the differences in competitive position between most regional airports in mid-Michigan and Traverse City.
The graph shown here displays the monthly trends in seat utilization for the years 2019 through 2022.
Monthly or seasonal variations in airline seat utilization can have significant implications for commercial airlines. By monitoring these trends, airlines can better understand changes in demand, adjust pricing and capacity planning strategies, and improve operational efficiency to maximize revenue and provide a better customer experience.
Annual trends in seat utilization provide insights into how efficiently airlines are using their available resources, such as aircraft and crew, to transport passengers. This information can help airlines identify areas where they can improve their operational efficiency and reduce costs. Furthermore, these trends can also provide insights into the competitive positioning of airlines. High seat utilization rates may indicate that an airline is successfully filling seats and capturing market share.
Overall, one can see that utilization has recovered very well since the severe downturn noted in 2020, with 2021 and 2022 remaining relatively high and stable year over year.
