Central ND News

North Dakota's commercial service airports have set a new record for passenger boardings in February 2025, according to the latest report from the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC). The state's eight airports recorded a total of 105,436 boardings, surpassing the previous high of 105,144 set in February 2020. This achievement marks ten consecutive months of record-breaking passenger numbers across these airports.

Compared to February 2024, there was a notable increase of 9%, with an additional 8,312 passengers utilizing North Dakota's airports this year. Despite facing subzero temperatures and severe winter conditions throughout the month—sometimes dropping below -25 degrees—the state's aviation system demonstrated resilience. Only 1% of flights were canceled due to weather-related issues.

Kyle Wanner, Director of the ND Aeronautics Commission, stated: “Even in periods of extreme cold, our airports and airline partners work diligently to keep flights operating and travelers moving safely.” He emphasized that as demand for air travel continues to rise, North Dakota’s airports are committed to expanding services and ensuring reliable travel options.

Fargo Hector International Airport also achieved a milestone by setting a new monthly record with 47,971 passenger boardings. This surpasses its previous February record from 2020 when it had 44,946 passengers and represents eleven consecutive months of record-breaking figures for Fargo.

The report highlights several key statistics for February 2025:

- Total airline passenger boardings reached 105,436.

- There were 131,702 available airline departure seats.

- The average aircraft load factor stood at 80%.

- A total of 1,534 successful airline departure flights occurred.

- The rate of flight cancellations was recorded at just over one percent.

The NDAC remains focused on enhancing passenger experiences while maintaining operational reliability regardless of seasonal challenges.