Spring Air Travel Demand in North Dakota Remains Strong
Posted 4/17/24 (Wed)
(Bismarck, ND) The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) has released the monthly report that provides information relating to the airline passenger traffic at the eight commercial service airports within the state.
Commercial airline boarding numbers for March 2024 reached 102,712 passengers, which represents a growth of 1,566 boardings or a 2% increase from March of 2023. Six of the eight of the commercial service airports also had higher passenger numbers than during this same period last year.
March is also historically one of the busiest times of the year for air travel in North Dakota as residents go about their spring break plans.
Despite the positive momentum, North Dakota's airports confront a persistent challenge in growing flight frequency and the amount of seats available for purchase. Additional service is currently needed to further fuel additional growth in passenger numbers and maintain competitive ticket prices.
Airlines continue to navigate hurdles in their efforts to scale operations as they grapple with a shortage of pilots and other aviation-related roles. However, this also presents a unique opportunity for aspiring aviation professionals as there continues to be a growing demand for a skilled workforce in the aviation sector.
"The ND Aeronautics Commission is committed to promoting aviation education opportunities for our youth and helping to foster a robust pipeline of talent to support the industry's expansion," stated Kyle Wanner, Director of the ND Aeronautics Commission. "Additionally, we are working to identify and address airport infrastructure needs by working with our airport leaders to lay the groundwork for enhancements that will enable airlines to grow their service in North Dakota when the opportunity arises."
March 2024 Statewide Airline Passenger Statistics
- Total Airline Passenger Boardings: 102,712
- Available Airline Departure Seats: 123,895
- Average Aircraft Load Factor: 83%
- Number of Successful Airline Departure Flights: 1,461
- Number of Airline Departure Flight Cancellations: 33
- Airline Departure Flight Cancellation Rate: 2.2%