With the Island’s only commercial airport on sound financial footing, the Martha’s Vineyard airport commission voted last week to adopt a roughly $12 million operating budget for the coming year.

A surplus of $1.8 million is projected on total revenues of $11.9 million. “If we had last year’s demand, that would bring in an additional $1 million of operating surplus,” financial controller Edward Christofono told commissioners at their meeting last Thursday.

Mr. Christofono said 2022 was a banner year for the airport, which ended the year with a $2.6 million surplus.

But cutbacks in flight schedules due to the national pilot shortage are a factor in a more conservative projected surplus for 2023.

“We’re not anticipating it to be at the same level it was last year,” airport director Geoffrey Freeman said.

The budget includes $6.5 million in total anticipated revenues from the sale of jet fuel, and $2.1 from the airport business park properties. The airport will pay $4 million to buy jet fuel, and expects to recoup that amount plus another $2.5 million from the sale of the fuel, according to the budget. Salaries and benefits are budgeted at $2.4 million.

Also at the meeting, Mr. Freeman detailed airline services for the upcoming summer at MVY. Cape Air, American Airlines, Delta and Jet Blue will all provide service.

Cape Air already provides year-round service, but will no longer offer summer service in and out of JFK and White Plains in New York, Mr. Freeman told the Gazette by phone.

American Airlines will run service between the Vineyard and Charlotte, Philadelphia, Chicago and Washington National, beginning the first week in June, Mr. Freeman said.

Beginning after Memorial Day, Delta will begin flights to LaGuardia Airport, and JetBlue will fly to and from Boston, JFK, Washington and Newark.

The commission voted to allow the financial subcommittee to authorize unplanned spending up to $50,000 without returning to the full commission for permission.

“Because a number of things come up that are fairly routine and obvious,” said commissioner Richard Knabel, who is a member of the subcommittee.

Commissioners said they expect to review proposals for four lots available for lease in the airport business park in the coming weeks. More than 50 applicants have taken out papers following a request for proposals, but none have been returned yet. Proposals are due May 20. Discussion and a possible decision are slated for the commission’s June meeting.

“We have no idea how many will actually respond,” commissioner Geoffrey Wheeler said.