Summer Travel Provides Boost to North Dakota Airline Passenger Recovery

North Dakota’s eight commercial service airports posted a total of 81,499 airline passenger boardings during the month of June. This month experienced the highest level of passenger traffic that the state has seen since the Covid-19 pandemic began and continues the monthly positive trend of growing airline passenger demand.  The June numbers show that the state is continuing its strong recovery as it is now only 19% below the pre-pandemic passenger levels by comparison to June of 2019.

“The continual growth in demand for air travel is great news and helps to fuel optimism for the airline industry that is operating within our state.” stated Kyle Wanner, Executive Director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission. “I encourage all of our residents and visitors to consider utilizing our North Dakota airports within any travel plans as any additional demand will help to leverage and expedite the return of more flight and destination options for our communities.”

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.