File Photo Passengers visit the ticket counters in the Minot airport terminal. Passenger boardings have been increasing in Minot and statewide overall.

Air travel saw a 10% increase in North Dakota for the first six months of 2025, according to the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission.

North Dakota’s commercial airports recorded a combined 654,304 passenger boardings from January through June, up 59,263 boardings from the same period in 2024. Only Devils Lake and Dickinson saw declines, and Jamestown saw the largest jump with a 37% increase.

Minot’s boarding for the first six months of the year totaled 88,332 passengers, up 7,436 boardings or 9.19% from the same period in 2024. The record for the six-month period was 106,863 in 20212.

Minot International Airport recorded boardings this past June of 15,220, up 1,176 passengers or 8.37% from June 2024.

June 2025 also marked the busiest June on record statewide, with 108,270 passengers statewide, the commission reported. This surpasses the previous June record last year, reflecting a nearly 5% year-over-year increase and an additional 4,749 passengers using commercial air service during the month.

North Dakota has seen 14 straight months of record-high passenger activity, the commission noted.

“Every corner of North Dakota is benefiting from enhanced air service, with more flights, better connections and growing access to major hubs. This upward trend is great news for our communities, our economy, and our future,” said Kyle Wanner, executive director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, in a news release.

In Minot, United Airlines has bolstered its schedule with two additional daily flights to Denver, bringing the total to five daily departures and improving connectivity for north-central North Dakota travelers. United also added a fifth daily departure to Denver from Williston.

In Bismarck, American Airlines launched new daily nonstop service to Chicago O’Hare on June 5, enhancing connectivity between central North Dakota and one of the nation’s largest hubs.

Delta Air Lines recently announced new daily year-round service to Atlanta from Fargo, beginning Dec. 20. This route will improve access to southeastern U.S. destinations and offer expanded international connections via Delta’s Atlanta hub.

Hector International Airport in Fargo also set a June record with 47,898 passenger boardings.

June 2025 Statewide

Airline Statistics

– Total airline passenger boardings: 108,270

– Average aircraft load factor: 82%

– Successful airline departure flights: 1,785

– Airline department flight cancellation rate: 0.7%