Central ND News

In July 2025, North Dakota’s eight commercial airports collectively set a new monthly record, with more than 122,000 passenger boardings. This achievement marks the fifteenth consecutive month of record-breaking traffic for the state’s air service network.

Kyle Wanner, Executive Director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, commented on the trend: “Continued growth in passenger traffic highlights the important role that air service plays in supporting North Dakota’s economy. These record numbers show that residents and visitors alike are choosing to fly, which strengthens our communities and expands opportunities across the state.”

Several updates contributed to this growth. Jamestown and Devils Lake airports now offer direct flights to Denver after ending their previous linked-route system. This change has increased available seats for both communities. Williston Basin International Airport saw Delta Airlines add a third daily flight to Minneapolis starting August 1.

Individual airports also reported new July records. Fargo’s Hector International Airport recorded 54,008 boardings—its sixteenth straight month of all-time highs—surpassing its previous July record of 48,344 set in 2024. Devils Lake Regional Airport reached 1,275 boardings, up from its prior July high of 1,050 last year. Williston Basin International Airport had 9,730 boardings, exceeding its earlier record of 9,605 from 2014.

Statewide statistics for July include a total of 122,238 airline passenger boardings and an average aircraft load factor of 86%. There were 1,860 successful airline departures with only nine cancellations during the month—a cancellation rate of just 0.5%.

For those interested in ongoing updates from the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission about airport activity and airline performance data within the state, further information is available through their news release subscription page.