The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) has released its monthly report detailing airline passenger traffic at the state’s eight commercial service airports.
In May 2025, North Dakota’s airports recorded 107,560 passenger boardings, setting a new all-time record for the month of May. This figure surpasses the previous May record of 103,068 set in 2024, representing a 4% year-over-year increase and an additional 4,492 passengers traveling through the state’s commercial air service network during the month.
This achievement marks the thirteenth consecutive month of record-breaking statewide passenger numbers for North Dakota, underscoring the continued growth and strength of the state’s air transportation system.
May also marked the first month of federal REAL ID enforcement for commercial airline travel. The transition went smoothly in North Dakota, with minimal impact reported at the airport security checkpoints.
Although the implementation has been successful, the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission continues to encourage all travelers to ensure they are REAL ID compliant before their next trip. Travelers who do not have a REAL ID-compliant credential (such as a North Dakota Star Card) or another form of identification accepted by TSA may experience delays and be subject to additional screening at TSA checkpoints. The length of these delays will depend on the number of other travelers in line without acceptable ID, potentially increasing wait times.
To avoid inconvenience, travelers are encouraged to verify their identification status and make arrangements to obtain a REAL ID as soon as possible. For more information on how to obtain a REAL ID in North Dakota, visit the NDDOT website.
Individual Airport – May Passenger Records:
Fargo – Hector International Airport experienced a new record for the month of May with 47,983 passenger boardings, exceeding the prior peak of 44,547 set in May, 2024. Notably, Fargo has now seen fourteen consecutive months of all-time high passenger activity.
View the May Airline Boarding Report
May 2025 Statewide Airline Passenger Statistics
- Total Airline Passenger Boardings: 107,560
- Available Airline Departure Seats: 129,616
- Average Aircraft Load Factor: 83%
- Number of Successful Airline Departure Flights: 1,716
- Number of Airline Departure Flight Cancellations: 9
- Airline Departure Flight Cancellation Rate: 0.5%
