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 12, 2026
The Minot International Airport has been named North Dakota’s 2025 Commercial Service Airport of the Year, while the New Town Municipal Airport has been recognized as the 2025 General Aviation Airport of the Year. These awards were presented during the North Dakota Aviation Association’s FLY-ND Conference awards banquet, held in Minot on March 10th, 2026.
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.
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.
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.
January 15, 2026
The North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame will soon welcome one of the state’s most accomplished aviators and most respected stewards of aviation heritage. Warren Pietsch of Minot has been selected as the Hall of Fame’s 51st inductee in recognition of his lifelong commitment to aviation, his leadership in preserving historic aircraft, his service to the State of North Dakota, and his impact on pilots and aviation enthusiasts around the world.
December 16, 2025
In November 2025, North Dakota airports recorded 101,211 passenger boardings, representing a 2 percent year-over-year decline compared to November 2024, or approximately 2,000 fewer travelers. This decline ends eighteen consecutive months of record-breaking passenger growth statewide, while Fargo’s nineteen-month streak of record passenger activity also came to an end—both largely due to impacts associated with the extended federal government shutdown. Despite this temporary interruption, North Dakota remains on pace to finish 2025 with its highest-ever annual passenger total.
November 13, 2025
The federal government shutdown, which began on October 1st, had minimal impact on North Dakota’s airports during the month of October. Of the nearly 1,800 scheduled airline departures statewide, only one flight was canceled during the entire month. In October 2025, North Dakota’s airports recorded 116,294 passenger boardings, setting a new all-time high for the month of October. This surpasses the previous record of 112,273 boardings set in 2024—a 4% year-over-year increase, representing more than 4,000 additional travelers.
October 21, 2025
In September 2025, North Dakota airports recorded 103,559 passenger boardings, setting a new all-time high for the month of September. This surpasses the previous record of 98,371 set in 2024—a 5% year-over-year increase, representing nearly 5,200 additional travelers. It also marks the first time airline boardings in North Dakota exceeded 100,000 in the month of September. Seven of the eight airports also posted growth compared to last September, contributing to the state’s seventeenth consecutive month of record-breaking passenger traffic.
October 1, 2025
The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) is proud to announce that North Dakota has been selected as the recipient of the NASAO Center Aviation Education Program Award in recognition of its outstanding efforts to advance aviation education through the Fly-ND Aviation Career Expo. Presented annually by the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), this national award recognizes one state aviation agency each year for excellence in aviation outreach, workforce development, and public engagement. North Dakota was selected for its leadership in developing the Fly-ND Career Expo—a program that has made a significant impact in inspiring and supporting the next generation of aviation professionals across the state.