March 12, 2026
Multiple pilots were recently presented with awards for participating in the “Fly North Dakota Airports” Passport Program. This program began in North Dakota in 2011 and it rewards pilots who fly to North Dakota’s publicly owned airports, attend FAA safety seminars, and visit North Dakota’s aviation museums. This program promotes safety, continuing education, and encourages pilots to practice approaches and landings in many different environments. This program also offers an opportunity to promote and support North Dakota’s airports and their community businesses and tourism opportunities.
March 2, 2026
Governor Armstrong has officially proclaimed March 2026 as Aviation Month in North Dakota! In our state, aviation is critical infrastructure. It powers economic growth, supports emergency response and agriculture, strengthens military readiness, connects businesses to worldwide markets, and serves as a lifeline for rural communities. From commercial service airports to general aviation airfields, from advanced UAS operations to air medical transport, aviation continues to drive North Dakota’s economy and elevate our quality of life.
March 2, 2026
North Dakota’s commercial service airports recorded 103,350 passenger boardings in January 2026, a 2 percent decrease compared to the record setting January 2025. Even with the slight year-over-year decline, January 2026 ranks as the second busiest January in state history.
January 20, 2026
North Dakota’s eight commercial service airports recorded 1,322,791 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 percent year-over-year growth rate, continuing a multi-year trend of sustained momentum. When combined with arriving passengers, more than 2.6 million total airline passengers traveled through North Dakota’s commercial airports in 2025.