Airline passenger traffic in September at Hector International Airport showed an increase as compared to the same month in 2004.  In September 2005 the passenger enplanements were 20,854.  This is an increase of 10.3% when compared to the September 2004 passenger enplanements of 18,913.  Total passenger count for the month was 41,318, which is up 13.5% over the same period last year.  Passenger enplanements for 2005 in comparison from 2003 to 1996 were 14.0%, 22.4%, 77.5%, 15.7%, 9.0%, 154.6%, 11.3% and 30.3% respectively.

In September 2005, Northwest Airlines operated eight daily flights to Minneapolis with Airbus 319/320, DC-9, RJ85 and CRJ aircraft.  United Express had three daily flights to Chicago and four daily flights to Denver with the CRJ aircraft. 

Also, on September 7, Northwest Airlines announced four weekly non-stop flights to Las Vegas beginning on October 30^th utilizing Airbus A-319 aircraft.

Total aircraft operations increased in September 2005 as compared to the same month in 2004.  In September 2005, the total aircraft operations (take-off and landings) were 7,437.  This is an increase of 39.9% when compared to the September 2004 total aircraft operations count of 5,317.  General aviation activity accounted for 63% of the total aircraft operations; air carrier activity accounted for 27% and military activity accounted for 10%.