North Dakota's Strong Holiday Air Travel Drives Record-Breaking November

North Dakota's Strong Holiday Air Travel Drives Record-Breaking November

Posted 12/18/24 (Wed)

(Bismarck, ND) - The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) has released its monthly report detailing airline passenger traffic at the state's eight commercial service airports.

In November 2024, 103,279 passengers boarded flights in North Dakota, making it the busiest November on record and surpassing the previous high of 102,517 passengers set in November of 2014.

The latest figures represent a 7% increase over November of 2023, with 6,561 more passengers. This November also marked the seventh consecutive month of record-breaking passenger totals across the state's commercial service airports.

Year-to-date, North Dakota's airports have served 94,770 more passengers than in the same 11 month period in 2023, reflecting a 9% increase year-over-year.

"The consistent rise in passenger numbers highlights the dedication of airport staff, airline partners, and the communities they serve," said Kyle Wanner, Executive Director of the NDAC. "As more travelers take to the skies, this sustained growth emphasizes the importance of continued investment in our airport infrastructure to meet rising demand and ensure reliable, efficient air travel for all North Dakotans."

New Route Information:

• The Bismarck Airport recently announced that it will begin offering daily flights to Chicago beginning June 5th, 2025. There are current plans for a mid-morning flight from Bismarck and an early afternoon return flight from Chicago. The service will be operated by American Airlines.

November Passenger Records:

• The Fargo Hector International Airport achieved a new monthly passenger record with 45,094 passenger boardings. The previous record for the airport for the month of November was set in 2023 with 42,271 passengers. This is the eighth consecutive record breaking month for Fargo.
• The Devils Lake Airport also achieved a new monthly passenger record with 845 passenger boardings. The previous record for the airport for the month of November was set in 2023 with 749 passengers.This is the tenth consecutive record breaking month for Devils Lake.

November 2024 Statewide Airline Passenger Statistics

• Total Airline Passenger Boardings: 103,279
• Available Airline Departure Seats: 129,430
• Average Aircraft Load Factor: 80%
• Number of Successful Airline Departure Flights: 1,587
• Number of Airline Departure Flight Cancellations: 26
• Airline Departure Flight Cancellation Rate: 1.6%

November 2024 Airline Boarding Report