Figures from the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission show passenger boardings were down 43% in March, contributing to boarding numbers that now are running nearly 8.5% behind 2019. Minot numbers show March boardings of 8,384 are down 44.5% from 15,107 in 2019. Minot’s overall boardings of 34,633 so far in 2020 are down 12.6%.

The Grand Forks airport saw the biggest impact in March with a 49% decline in boardings, followed by Bismarck with nearly 48%. Fargo was down 40% and Williston 36%.

Airports recently posted the highest passenger numbers on record for the month of February, and the overall trend was pointing to the potential for a record-breaking year in statewide passenger boardings, according to the aeronautics commission. Passenger numbers began to drop by the middle of March as a reduction of travel due to the COVID-19 virus. Commercial service passenger boardings throughout North Dakota during March totalled 266,466, down 46,042 passengers from March of 2019.

Commercial airline passenger boardings throughout North Dakota and the rest of the country are currently estimated to be at 5% of their normal passenger boarding numbers, the aeronautics commission reported.

Kim Fundingsland/MDN Passengers gather at the airline counter March 20 in the Minot airport terminal. Boarding numbers were down 44.5% in March.

Airports receive most of their operational revenue through passenger facility charges from purchased airline tickets, paid parking and customer facility charges from car rentals and other on-site concessionaires. The dramatic drop in passengers has created financial concerns for both airports and airlines.

The City of Minot had estimated a potential 10% drop in airport revenue during 2020, based on current estimates. The CARES stimulus package that was recently signed into law is expected to provide some relief, said Minot Airport Director Rick Feltner.

The CARES package provides for the Federal Aviation Administration to pay 100% of capital projects, up from the usual 90%. That will save the city $220,000 on the paving of its general aviation apron and reconstruction and paving of its cargo apron, Feltner said.

Another provision of the package will provide an undetermined amount of financial relief based on a formula using 2018 passenger boardings and serviceable debt.

North Dakota’s airports also have been experiencing reductions in flights, and this month, the state is seeing an estimated 42% loss in overall passenger seats available.

Minot’s airport averages three to five flights a day, compared to 12 to 14 that has been typical, Feltner said.

“We still have departures and arrivals every day. They are are much reduced,” he said. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines still have flights, but Allegiant Air has canceled its Las Vegas flights and its Phoenix flights are declining.

It’s not just the removal of flights from the schedule that is occurring.

“It’s obvious that the carriers are looking at individual flights and looking at the booking on those flights and making decisions to cancel them individually,” Feltner said.

Flight losses are expected to be temporary, the aeronautics commission stated. In the near future, the airlines are expected to maintain a minimal service level to communities throughout the country due to the aid that they will receive from the CARES stimulus package.

Feltner said the airport closed its long-term parking, moving all parking to the short-term lot, which reduces the parking staff needed. The airport continues to operate round-the-clock, though, with general aviation, medical flights, FedEx deliveries and Minot Air Force Base training among activities taking place.

The aeronautics commission stated all North Dakota’s commercial and general aviation airports continue to remain operational, and air freight of products continues without disruption. Airport staff and TSA personnel are being pro-active to sanitize surfaces throughout their airport multiple times a day in efforts to maintain clean facilities and help to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

“Although these are currently difficult times, our airports are helping to ensure the safe transportation of critical materials and personnel who need to travel. They are also working hard to be in a position to help our economy rebound, once the COVID-19 virus concerns have subsided,” said Kyle Wanner, executive director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission. “Due to the strength that we previously had in North Dakota’s aviation industry and the fact that North Dakota’s airports have tackled so many other significant issues over the years, I am confident that, together, we can work through these new issues and, hopefully, help our communities come out of this situation even stronger than before.”