Airline passenger traffic in August at Hector International Airport showed an increase as compared to the same month in 2004. In August 2005 the passenger enplanements were 23,851. This is an increase of 1.4% when compared to the August 2004 passenger enplanements of 23,527. Total passenger count for the month was 47,548, which is up 2.9% over the same period last year. Passenger enplanements for 2005 in comparison from 2003 back to 1996 were 15.1%, 12.2%, 17.7%, 14.4%, 15.7%, 31.1%, 30.9% and 11.7% respectively. This is the 12th consecutive month showing enplanement increases.

In August 2005, Northwest Airlines operated eight daily flights to Minneapolis with Airbus 319/320, DC-9, and RJ85 aircraft. United Express had three daily flights to Chicago and four daily flights to Denver with the CRJ aircraft. United Express carried 38% of the Fargo market share which was its largest ever.

Also, on August 17, Allegiant Air announced twice weekly flights to Las Vegas beginning on November 7th utilizing McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft.

Total aircraft operations increased in August 2005 as compared to the same month in 2004. In August 2005, the total aircraft operations (take-off and landings) were 6,977. This is an increase of 7.4% when compared to the August 2004 total aircraft operations count of 6,499. General aviation activity accounted for 63% of the total aircraft operations; air carrier activity accounted for 25% and military activity accounted for 12%.