MDN File Photo Minot International Airport recorded 177,797 passenger boardings in 2025, an increase over 2024 boardings.

BISMARCK – Commercial air travel had its strongest year in state history in 2025, according to the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, which released its 2025 annual report Tuesday, Jan. 20.

North Dakota’s eight commercial service airports recorded more than 1.32 million airline passenger boardings, surpassing the previous record set in 2024 and marking the first time the state has exceeded 1.3 million departing passengers in a single year. This represents an increase of 76,271 passenger boardings and a 6% year-over-year growth rate, continuing a multi-year trend of sustained momentum, according to the commission.

“Reaching more than 1.3 million annual passenger boardings for the first time confirms that North Dakota’s air service system is performing at an exceptionally high level,” said Kyle Wanner, executive director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission. “Our airports are delivering strong demand, outstanding reliability and disciplined capacity growth that positions North Dakota well for continued growth.”

Minot International Airport recorded 177,797 passenger boardings in 2025, up 4.9% from 169,472 boardings in 2024. Minot’s peak year was 224,421 boardings in 2012.

When combined with arriving passengers, more than 2.6 million total airline passengers traveled through North Dakota’s commercial airports in 2025.

Throughout 2025, North Dakota’s airports also maintained an average aircraft load factor of about 80%. These performance trends signal strong potential for additional routes, frequencies, and aircraft upgrades across North Dakota’s commercial service airports, the commission reported.

Despite challenging winter weather conditions, North Dakota’s airports also outperformed national reliability averages.

Other 2025 key statistics included:

– Total available airline departure seats increased by 118,848 seats in 2025 to more than 1.64 million, an 8% increase from 2024 and an indicator of airline confidence and future growth potential.

– 20,698 airline departures were successfully operated throughout 2025, representing a 12% increase over the prior year.

– Only 186 flights were canceled statewide, producing a cancellation rate of less than 1%, well below national averages that typically range from 1-2%.

– Seven of North Dakota’s eight commercial airports recorded year-over-year passenger growth.

– For the first time in state history, all eight commercial service airports surpassed 10,000 annual boardings, qualifying every airport for Primary Airport status under Federal Aviation Administration classification guidelines, which is a designation that strengthens eligibility for federal infrastructure funding. Devils Lake Municipal Airport became the final airport to achieve this milestone in 2025.

– Fargo and Bismarck achieved new annual passenger records, with 590,542 passenger boardings in Fargo and 309,533 passenger boardings in Bismarck.

North Dakota’s aviation industry has demonstrated exceptional resilience since the COVID-19 pandemic, when passenger volumes fell by more than 50% in 2020, according to the aeronautics commission.

The most recent statewide aviation economic impact study estimates that North Dakota’s public-use airports generate more than $1.6 billion in annual economic benefits, supporting thousands of jobs. A new, updated economic impact study is underway and will be released in the summer of 2026.