Meet New Airport Authority Board Member: Dr. Dean Bresciani 

Dr. Dean Bresciani was appointed to the airport authority board this quarter by the mayor of Fargo to serve a five-year term. Dr. Bresciani graduated with an undergraduate degree in sociology and continued for a doctorate in higher education finance with an economics minor. He also obtained his master’s in college student personnel. He has spent over 40 years working with large projects including higher education, traveling and construction projects. With his avid experience in the industry, Dr. Bresciani is excited to see the expansion come to life as a positive front door to the Midwest for both out-of-state travelers and Fargo-Moorhead locals. He hopes to bring the airport authority board to life and engage with the public to best serve those who fly with Hector International Airport.  

Municipal airport authority board members include:   

• Chair – James Kapitan  

• Vice Chair – Paula Ekman 

• Rick Berg 

• John Cosgriff 

Terminal Expansion & Parking Garage Updates 

We had a very successful groundbreaking on July 1. A special thank you to our MAA board members; our North Dakota legislators, Gov. Doug Burgum, Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer; and Congressman Kelly Armstrong representative, Mary Christy for the support. We’d also like to thank Lindsay Terry, DMA-ADO at the Federal Aviation Administration, and Kyle Wanner, director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, for taking time to be present. We also couldn’t complete this project without the help of local funds. Thank you to Fargo Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney, West Fargo Mayor Bernie Dardis and Moorhead Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Hendrickson for speaking.  

Construction of the terminal expansion has begun and will take about three years to complete, with the eastern expansion projected to be completed in early 2026 and the existing terminal renovation to be completed in early 2027. This expansion is funded by local, state and federal funds.  

In addition, construction has now officially begun on the parking ramp. This project is estimated to take around 14 months to complete. During this time, we ask that travelers check our website and social media accounts frequently for important updates regarding parking, pickup and drop-off locations. For more details and updated renderings, visit our terminal expansion page on our website.  

Valet Parking Service Begins August 1 

Hector is excited to start a valet parking service effective August 1. For $28/day, passengers can drop their car with a valet attendant outside of the entrance to ticket counters. To pick up their car upon return, there will be a stand outside of baggage claim. Valet will provide an expedited parking experience during construction of the parking ramp. Operating hours are one hour before the first departure and one hour after the last departure. Visit fargoairportparking.com for more information. 

Freedom Resource Award 

Hector International Airport received the Accessibility Award from the Freedom Resource Center in May. This award recognizes organizations that are making a greater impact in our community for people with disabilities. Shawn Dobberstein, Hector International Airport’s executive director, accepted the Accessibility Award on behalf of the airport. Brandon Halverson and Hector’s terminal expansion design team, Mead & Hunt, were also recognized for creating an environment where individuals with disabilities can feel comfortable.  

Anyone with a visible or non-visible disability traveling through Hector can stop by our information center desk on the first floor to grab a Hidden Disability Sunflower lanyard or bracelet. These indicate to airport staff that the individual may need some extra time or guidance while in the airport.   

For more information about Hector’s services and the Hidden Disability Sunflower program, please visit our website.  

Are You ID Ready? 

On May 7, 2025, all U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. This means you have less than a year to prepare. The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses and identification cards.” The act establishes minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibits federal agencies from accepting noncompliant driver’s licenses and identification cards.   

Find out if you’re REAL ID ready with the DHS’s interactive tool. 

Congratulations to MAA Employee: Jordan Dahl 

Congratulations to Jordan Dahl, MAA airport operations specialist, who successfully completed the chamber’s 23/24 Leadership Fargo Moorhead West Fargo (LFMWF) program. 

For more than 30 years, Leadership Fargo Moorhead West Fargo has connected and developed leaders who greatly impact the community though dedication and service. You can find their alumni holding prominent public leadership roles within the Fargo-Moorhead community. Each year, LFMWF selects 40 emerging and existing leaders from all sectors of the community to participate in the 10-month program. Participants in the program build an impactful, long-lasting network of other leaders while sharpening their own leadership capabilities, exploring many challenges and opportunities of our community, and contributing to the vitality of our region through Community Change Initiatives. 

Jordan is a graduate of UND with a bachelor’s in Business Administration and has been with Hector Airport full time since 2015. He also served as an intern prior to working at the Fort Wayne International Airport. 

Terminal Tidbits 

Fargo Air Show 

The wait is over! The Fargo AirSho is returning to Hector International Airport on July 27 & 28, 2024. Headlined by powerhouse performances from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, this year’s event is going to be one you won’t want to miss. Get your tickets now on their website. 

Honor Flights 

Are you a veteran or know someone who is? The next Honor Flight for veterans to experience Washington, D.C., up close for FREE is slated for September 22-24, 2024. See if you are eligible to participate by visiting their website. 

Car Rentals 

Hector International Airport offers seven different rental car options for you to make the most of your time in the area. Book ahead and enjoy a smooth exit! Learn more about your options here. 

Share Your Ideas 

What airport topics would you like to learn about in our next newsletter? Let us know by filling out this form. 

Q1 Boarding Statistics 

April 

Hector International Airport’s airline passenger traffic in April showed an increase when compared to the same month in 2023. In April 2024, passenger enplanements were 41,466. This is an increase of 5% when compared to the April 2023 passenger enplanements of 39,680. The previous April record was set in 2023. The total passenger count for the month was 86,139, which is up 4% over the same period last year. 

There were 558 air carrier departures with an average of 93 seats per flight in April and an average of 2,871 total daily passengers. 

May 

Another travel month increase was logged in the books when May showed an increase compared to the same month in 2023. In May 2024, passenger enplanements were 44,547. This is an increase of 9% when compared to the May 2023 passenger enplanements of 40,969. The previous record May was set in 2023. The total passenger count for the month was 91,053, which is up 8% over the same period last year. 

Frontier Airlines recorded its all-time high for Fargo passenger service. 

There were 575 air carrier departures with an average of 96 seats per flight in May and an average of 2,937 total daily passengers. 

June 

It was an exciting month as June brought on another new record for passenger travel. Hector International Airport’s airline passenger traffic in June showed an increase when compared to the same month in 2023. In June 2024, the passenger enplanements were 45,301. This is an increase of 13% when compared to the June 2023 passenger enplanements of 40,174. The previous record June was set in 2023. The total passenger count for the month was 93,218, which is up 14% over the same period last year. 

There were 599 air carrier departures with an average of 96 seats per flight in June and an average of 3,107 total daily passengers.