July 2019 Update From The Municipal Airport Authority
Hector International Airport was named 2019 Busiest Small Airport of the Year
Hector International Airport was named Official Aviation Guide’s 2019 Busiest Small Airport of the Year. The airport accommodated 553,492 scheduled departing seats in the previous 12 months. “This acknowledgement is a reflection of the passengers we serve.” said Shawn Dobberstein, Executive Director of Hector International Airport. “We’re grateful for our community and so thankful for all the people who choose to fly Fargo.”
Small airports are classified as those which range from 510,000 to 554,000 departing scheduled seats annually. Akron/Canton, a civil-military airport that serves the greater Cleveland area, ranked second; followed by Key West, Billings and Rick Husband Amarillo.
Spectrum Aeromed named 2018 Exporter of the Year
Spectrum Aeromed was named the 2018 Exporter of the Year by the North Dakota Trade Office. The award was presented in recognition of its expansion to a total of 23 international markets and ongoing commitment to innovation. In addition, Spectrum Aeromed is a sponsor of the Association of Critical Care Transport, a patient advocacy nonprofit group.
Continued Improvement for Hector International Airport
To best service our customers, Hector International Airport has the following upcoming improvements:
- Cargo apron expansion to accommodate UPS
- Acquisition of snow removal equipment
- Expansion of snow removal equipment building
- Planning for the passenger terminal expansion and terminal apron reconstruction
The previously proposed skyway has been delayed to accommodate the above projects. This project could be included in the next terminal expansion project that will add one or two boarding gates, expanded food and beverage concessions, restrooms and seating area.
Operation and Maintenance Fund vs. Construction Fund
Hector International Airport strives to be a beacon for those traveling through Fargo-Moorhead. In order to do so and to offer the best customer experience, the airport has funds for improvements broken into two separate buckets – one for operations and maintenance and one for construction.
The Airport Authority receives two mills from the City of Fargo via property taxes. These funds are placed in the construction fund to match federal airport grants, complete improvement projects like enhancements made to Dakota Drive, purchase equipment when federal or state funds are not available, fund marketing efforts and to support the Administration of the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program. The Fargo Airport Authority is designated as the Grantee for the FTZ program by the US Department of Commerce FTZ Board.
The operation and maintenance fund is used for items such as fuel, supplies, special assessments, repairs, salaries and benefits. It does not use property tax dollars, but instead uses revenues generated from airport travelers and tenants.
Spotlight on Meadowlark Logistics
With a combined 25+ years of experience in the transportation industry, Meadowlark Logistics LLC specializes in same day and scheduled services as well as on-demand transportation needs. Founded in 2014 in Fargo, ND, Meadowlark Logistics was developed to provide businesses with a safe and secure alternative in the delivery and transportation of their clients’ goods and services. Driven by this goal and to fulfill the needs for secure handling and transportation of confidential and time-sensitive materials, Meadowlark Logistics implemented a customized same day and scheduled delivery service. This ensured the safe, convenient and cost-effective movement of clients’ goods. With “Complete Customer Satisfaction” as the number one priority, Meadowlark Logistics strives to continually improve its contractors, equipment, facilities, and service to give customers the most cost-efficient and dependable service for time-sensitive materials. For more information, go to https://www.mdolark.com/
Seasonal Shuttle Service
Hector International Airport provided a parking shuttle service for people using long-term and economy parking lots this past winter. Parking services provider SP+ shuttled more than 3,100 passengers, operating from Dec. 17 to March 31. The service was provided at no cost to the Municipal Airport Authority or travelers.
Hector International Airport will review service rates to determine if the shuttle will be offered for future seasons.
Q2 2019 Boarding Statistics
Passenger enplanements were up for all three months of the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same months in 2018.
April saw an increase of 11.1 percent when compared to April 2018 passenger enplanements of 35,402, it was the busiest April since the previous record set in 2018.
Total passenger count was 73,822, which is up 11.1 percent over the same period last year. There were 629 air carrier departures with an average of 78 seats per flight and an average of 4,461 total daily passengers.
May airline passenger traffic also increased. Enplanements were 37,796, which is an increase of 17.8 percent when compared to the May 2018 passenger enplanements of 32,088.
Total passenger count for the month was 76,652, which is up 18.5 percent over the same period last year. There were 661 air carrier departures with an average of 75 seats per flight in May and an average of 2,473 total daily passengers.
Airline passenger traffic also increased in June with 40,003 enplanements. This is an increase of 14.6 percent when compared to the June 2018 enplanements of 34,897.
Total passenger count for the month was 86,061, which is up 14.7 percent over June 2018. There were 636 air carrier departures with an average of 77 seats per flight in June and an average of 2,735 total daily passengers.
Delta Global Services Update
Hector International Airport continues to work with DGS to improve aspects of the customer experience. Concerns about the company’s performance were addressed at March 12 and June 11 meetings, which included the Fargo Municipal Airport Authority, DGS, Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation and the Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau. In response to concerns raised, DGS has brought in temporary duty workers and highly experienced staff to mentor new and younger employees. Additional updates will be requested at upcoming MAA board meetings.
Upcoming
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will perform July 20-21, 2019, at the Fargo AirSho. This will be the first time the Thunderbirds have flown in Fargo since 1989.