Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program 

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program was founded in the United Kingdom and assists individuals with non-visible disabilities by discreetly signaling to others, using a sunflower, that they have a disability not immediately noticeable such as autism, dementia, mental health issues or chronic illnesses. The sunflower symbol serves as a communication tool, particularly for those in customer service positions at the airport, alerting them that the wearer might require extra assistance, understanding or just more time. Hector is proud to be the first location and airport in North Dakota to adopt this program.  

If you are interested in using the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program at the airport, the process is simple. Travelers can request a free lanyard, button, pin or bracelet at Hector’s information center desk, located on the main floor, and decide when to wear it at their own discretion. Anyone who believes they have a non-visible disability can ask for one, and there are no specific requirements for requesting the item. When an airport staff member sees someone with a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, they are aware that the wearer may require additional assistance or patience. To learn more, visit Hector International Airport’s website.   

Terminal Expansion Update (can add updated photo of elevator construction) 

Construction of the terminal expansion is in progress as Hector has begun phase one of the expansion! Phase one is particularly focused on the building of the new passenger elevator and updating the automatic entrance doors. Starting in spring of 2024, the tentative plan is to start on the eastern side of the expansion which will take until the first quarter of 2026 to complete. After that phase is completed, the next steps are to move the check points to add room for concessions, restrooms and more. Those modifications are scheduled to be completed in early 2027. To stay up to date on expansion happenings, visit the Terminal Expansion Gallery. The timeline for terminal expansion is subject to change.  

Parking Ramp Update 

The Municipal Airport Authority has authorized a $43 million parking ramp and $4 million skyway that will connect to the enhanced terminal. The four-story structure will have around 977 parking stalls and a roof and will be partially enclosed. The Airport Authority Board is looking into potential sheeting to block wind and weather as an option to be added to the structure. It will be located just south of the terminal and cover what is now a short-term parking lot. Construction on the ramp is potentially scheduled to begin around April and is expected to take 12 to 14 months to complete. The board has hired T. L. Stroh Architects to design a parking structure. McGough Construction and T. F. Powers have been hired as construction managers for the project. Stay tuned for more details and updates on our website.  

2023 ArtWORKS Performances 

The ArtWORKS program at Hector International Airport hosted musical performances by local artists during the summer and holiday season for its sixth year. Performances ran weekly over the lunch hour in the months of July and August while holiday performances lasted two weeks in December. These series celebrated creativity through collaboration with The Arts Partnership. Interviews with performers, as well as leaders from the Arts Partnership, were available. 

The performances included:   

• Kicks Combo 
• Matthew Johnson 
• Dan Christianson 
• Lezan Tahir & Jiyar Salman 
• Dakota Brass Quintet 
• Silver Winds Flute Quartet 
• Matthew Patnode Trio 

For more information, visit https://www.fargoairport.com/at-the-airport/artworks/ 

Terminal Tidbits 

Say Cheese 

Next time you #FlyFargo, be sure to check out our selfie station near Gate 3! Pick your frame and strike a pose to be featured on our social media pages. The photobooth is free to use and a great way to create a memory. 

2023 Passenger Wrap-Up- Hector Breaks the 1 Million Total Passenger Mark 

This year, 11 of 12 months were record breaking numbers in passenger enplanements. More than 1 million passengers have flown through Hector, and the future looks even brighter.  

Let’s Get Social 

Want to stay in the loop? Follow us on X (Twitter), Instagram or Facebook to receive travel tips, exciting destinations and so much more. You can follow us on any platform @fargoairport.  

Plan Ahead 

With winter weather in full swing, be sure to stay up to date on your departure and arrival times. Please check with your airline’s website and/or mobile app to ensure your travel plans are accurate.  

Share Your Ideas 

What airport topics would you like to learn about in our next newsletter? Let us know: https://www.fargoairport.com/newsletterfeedback/ 

Q4 Monthly Statistics 

October  

October passenger numbers set yet another record! Hector International Airport’s airline passenger traffic in October showed an increase when compared to the same month in 2022. In October 2023, passenger enplanements were 43,332. This is an increase of 9.5% when compared to the October 2022 passenger enplanements of 39,578. The previous record for October was set in 2022. This is the eighth consecutive enplanement record. 

 The total passenger count for the month was 85,513, which is up 10% over the same period last year. 

There were 508 air-carrier departures with an average of 97 seats per flight in October and an average of 2,758 total daily passengers. 

November  

Another month, another new record. Hector International Airport’s airline passenger traffic in November showed an increase when compared to 2022. In November 2023, passenger enplanements were 42,271. This is an increase of 11% when compared to the November 2022 passenger enplanements of 38,014. The previous record November was set in 2022. This is the ninth consecutive enplanement record. 

The total passenger count for the month was 82,558, which is up 11% over the same period last year.  

There were 497 air-carrier departures with an average of 96 seats per flight in November and an average of 2,752 total daily passengers. 

December 

Wrapping up the airline passenger traffic numbers, December showed an increase when compared to the same month in 2022.  In December 2023, the passenger enplanements were 45,655.  This is an increase of 5% when compared to the December 2022 passenger enplanements of 43,610.  2019 still holds the December busiest record with a record 46,021 passengers. 

The total passenger count for the month was 89,289, which is up 7% over the same period last year. 

There were 529 air carrier departures with an average of 100 seats per flight in December and an average of 2,880 total daily passengers. 

Year-End 2023 Summary – Busiest Year on Record 

Airline passenger traffic in 2023 at Hector International Airport showed an increase as compared to 2022.  In 2023, the total passenger enplanements were 516,071. This is an increase of 13% when compared to the 2022 passenger enplanements of 455,512.  This is the busiest year on record after 2019 with 471,333 enplaned passengers. 

The total passenger count for the year was 1,032,497, which is up 14% over 2022 which had 908,075 total passengers. 

Hector Airport had 6,375 air carrier landings in 2023 that averaged 95 seats per flight and averaged an 85% load factor. 

Air Cargo 2023 Summary 

In 2023, 5,688 air cargo aircraft landed with a total landed weight of 406,090,395 pounds.  This compares to 2022 of 6,046 air cargo aircraft landed with a total landed weight of 409,949,060 pounds.  2023 had a -0.9% decrease over the previous year.  This follows a downward national air cargo trend.