Positive Trend for Airline Boardings Continue

The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) has released the monthly report that provides information relating to the airline passenger traffic at the eight commercial service airports within the state.

Commercial airline boarding numbers for May 2023 reached 91,454 passengers, representing an 8% increase from the same period last year. Six of the commercial service airports also had higher passenger numbers than during May of 2022.

Two of the commercial service airports also set a record for their best month of May on record:

The Fargo Hector International Airport achieved a new monthly passenger record with 40,969 passenger boardings. The previous record for the airport for month of May was set in 2019 with 37,796 passengers.

The Devils Lake Airport also achieved a new monthly passenger record with 657 passenger boardings. The previous record for the airport for month of May was set in 2019 with 548 passengers.

The overall passenger demand throughout the state remains healthy and the average statewide aircraft load factor is currently estimated at 79%. Limited weather impacts and a very low level of flight departure cancellations for the month also helped ensure that a high-level of reliability has been available for residents and visitors. 

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Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.