For many years, the fate and future use of City Airport, about six miles outside of downtown, has been up in the air. This week, the City announced plans for a long-term operator and a significant investment.
Avflight, which has been at the airport since 2011, will have a 30-year leasehold on the airport. The company plans to build a new 3,000-square-foot terminal and a 15,000-square-foot hangar starting this summer.
“We’re proud of our operation at KDET,” said Avflight’s Vice President of Operations, Joe Meszaros. “We’ve always seen the value in preserving Coleman A. Young International Airport’s operations and have worked hard the last decade and a half to not only keep it operational, but also make it a successful enterprise—one that supports the city’s economy by serving as a gateway to Detroit business and as an employer of Detroit’s citizens.”
The city has also been working on improvements to KDET. Additional enhancements to the airport include a $350,000 LED taxi lighting upgrade and $3.5 million renovation of the runway. The airport will also see a $1.2 million in ramp pavement improvements and $8.1 million in an engineered material arresting system, which will help stop aircraft at the end of the runway.
The city is also planning on building a new control tower in 2026, new educational opportunities, and facilities enhancements like snow removal and beautification.
"This transformative partnership with Avflight marks a pivotal moment in KDET's history,” said Jason Watt, Director of Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport. "With a shared vision for innovation and excellence, we are poised to elevate KDET as a premier aviation hub, driving economic growth and opportunity for the City of Detroit and our region."
