Hector International Airport

Hector International Airport
2006 USGS orthophoto
Summary
Airport typePublic / military
OwnerMunicipal Airport Authority of the City of Fargo
OperatorMunicipal Airport Authority
ServesFargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota (Fargo–Moorhead)
LocationFargo, North Dakota
Opened1927 (1927)
Hub for
Elevation AMSL901 ft / 275 m
Coordinates46°55′14″N 096°48′56″W / 46.92056°N 96.81556°W / 46.92056; -96.81556
Websitewww.FargoAirport.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
Map
Interactive map of Hector International Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18/36 9,001 2,744 Concrete
9/27 6,302 1,921 Concrete
13/31 3,801 1,159 Concrete
Statistics (2025)
Total passengers1,179,442 Increase 8.0%
Air carrier landings7,573
Source: Hector International Airport[3][4][5]

Hector International Airport (IATA: FAR, ICAO: KFAR, FAA LID: FAR) is a civil-military public airport three miles (5 km) northwest of Fargo, in Cass County, North Dakota, United States. The busiest airport in North Dakota, it is owned by the City of Fargo Municipal Airport Authority.[4] Fargo Air National Guard Base is located adjacent to the airport.

The airport was named after Martin Hector, who first leased, and then donated the original 50 acres of land to the city.[6] Customs service is available for arrivals from Canada and other countries. Hector International has no scheduled passenger airline flights out of the country but has its international title (like many other airports) because of this customs service.

The airport is home to Fargo Air National Guard Base and the Happy Hooligans of the 119th Wing (119 WG), a unit of the North Dakota Air National Guard that operates the MQ-9 Reaper.

The airport was the intended destination for the airplane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson on February 3, 1959. The airplane crashed shortly after takeoff from Mason City, Iowa, killing the three musicians and the pilot.

Facilities and aircraft

Interior of the terminal in 2024

Hector International Airport covers 2,500 acres (10 km2) and has three runways: 18/36 is 9,001 x 150 ft (2,744 x 46 m), 9/27 is 6,302 x 100 ft (1,921 x 30 m), and 13/31 is 3,801 x 75 ft (1,159 x 46 m).[4][7] Hector International has the longest public runway in North Dakota and can receive Boeing 747s.

The current terminal was built in 1986 and designed by Foss Associates with Thompson Consultants.[8]

In 2008 the airport completed the passenger terminal expansion and update that had begun in October 2006. The $15.5 million project designed by TL Stroh Architects updated the terminal and added a fifth gate, an additional baggage claim and expanded the security checkpoint area. TSA PreCheck was added in 2014.[9]

A large terminal expansion project began in 2024. The $156 million project will add four new gates on the east side of the existing building, bringing the terminal's total number of gates to nine, as well as renovate existing portions of the terminal.[10] The project will also increase seating, add new post-security concession areas, and expand the facility's security checkpoint.[11] The new gates opened in 2026 with full project completion slated for 2027. [12]

A four-story, 1,000 space parking garage opened in August 2025.[13] The $47 million facility features a skyway connecting the garage to the terminal building, which is expected to open in 2026. [10]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Allegiant Air Las Vegas,[14] Nashville,[15] Phoenix/Mesa[16]
Seasonal: Orlando/Sanford,[17] St. Petersburg/Clearwater[18] 		[17]
American Eagle Chicago–O'Hare,[19] Dallas/Fort Worth[20]
Seasonal: Phoenix–Sky Harbor[21]
Delta Air Lines Minneapolis/St. Paul[22]
Delta Connection Atlanta,[23] Minneapolis/St. Paul[22]
Frontier Airlines Denver[24]
Seasonal: Orlando[25]
United Airlines Denver[26]
United Express Chicago–O'Hare,[27] Denver[26]
Passenger destinations map
class=notpageimage|
All destinations from Hector International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Green = Seasonal destination
Blue = Future destination

Cargo

AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Alpine Air Express Bismarck, Dickinson,[28] Minot, Sioux Falls, Thief River Falls, Williston[29] [30]
Bemidji Airlines Bismarck,[31] Devils Lake[32]
FedEx Express Memphis [33]
FedEx Feeder
operated by Corporate Air 		Bemidji,[34] Bismarck,[35] Dickinson,[36] Minot,[37] Williston,[38] Winnipeg[39]
UPS Airlines Louisville [40]
Cargo destinations map
class=notpageimage|
All cargo destinations from Hector International Airport
  = Year-round destination
  = Seasonal destination
  = Future destination

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from FAR
(September 2024 – August 2025)[41]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN 175,460 Delta
2 Chicago–O'Hare, IL 109,870 American, United
3 Denver, CO 109,070 Frontier, United
4 Dallas/Fort Worth, TX 72,130 American
5 Phoenix-Mesa, AZ 58,070 Allegiant
6 Las Vegas, NV 18,580 Allegiant
7 Nashville, TN 14,600 Allegiant
8 Orlando–Sanford, FL 11,210 Allegiant
9 Phoenix–Sky Harbor, AZ 9,340 American
10 St. Petersburg/Clearwater, FL 8,790 Allegiant

Annual traffic

Annual passenger traffic at Fargo Airport
1998–present[42]
Year Passengers Year Passengers Year Passengers
1997 406,912 2007 599,168 2017 787,927
1998 384,205 2008 648,137 2018 843,582
1999 445,744 2009 697,810 2019 930,409
2000 465,636 2010 724,941 2020 478,604
2001 434,332 2011 699,549 2021 796,675
2002 484,068 2012 728,799 2022 908,075
2003 508,534 2013 797,125 2023 1,032,497
2004 506,650 2014 894,426 2024 1,092,836
2005 549,209 2015 858,982 2025 1,179,442
2006 609,731 2016 789,182

Commercial airline market share

Airline market share
(September 2024 – August 2025)[42]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 SkyWest Airlines 299,000 25.41%
2 Envoy Air 257,000 21.87%
3 Allegiant Airlines 223,000 18.98%
4 Delta Air Lines 206,000 17.46%
5 United Airlines 79,620 6.77%
Other Airlines 112,000 9.52%

Ground transportation

As of 2022, there is no public transit service to Hector International Airport. The closest MATBUS bus stop is located over a mile away.

Climate

Hector International Airport
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
24
 
 
−13
−16
 
 
33
 
 
−8
−15
 
 
27
 
 
0
−10
 
 
85
 
 
18
−1
 
 
114
 
 
26
5
 
 
140
 
 
28
14
 
 
65
 
 
30
18
 
 
59
 
 
27
17
 
 
57
 
 
24
12
 
 
57
 
 
15
1
 
 
14
 
 
5
−4
 
 
30
 
 
−11
−13
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [43]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
0.9
 
 
9
3
 
 
1.3
 
 
18
5
 
 
1.1
 
 
32
14
 
 
3.3
 
 
64
30
 
 
4.5
 
 
79
41
 
 
5.5
 
 
82
57
 
 
2.6
 
 
86
64
 
 
2.3
 
 
81
63
 
 
2.2
 
 
75
54
 
 
2.2
 
 
59
34
 
 
0.6
 
 
41
25
 
 
1.2
 
 
12
9
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

UFO encounter

On October 1, 1948, the Gorman dogfight, a widely publicized UFO encounter, took place over Hector International Airport.[44]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Corporate Air Locations". Archived from the original on April 17, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  2. ^ "Home - Bemidji Aviation Services, Inc". Bemidji Aviation Services, Inc. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  3. ^ "2025 Year End Statistics For Fargo Airport". fargoairport.com. January 21, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c FAA Airport Form 5010 for FAR PDF, effective January 22, 2026.
  5. ^ "Air Traffic Activity System (ATADS)". aspm.faa.gov. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  6. ^ "Hector Field History". Municipal Airport Authority. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006.
  7. ^ "FAR airport data at skyvector.com". FAA data effective January 22, 2026.
  8. ^ "PA Inquiry Airport Terminals" (PDF). Progressive Architecture. 68 (1–3). Berkeley: Reinhold: 100. March 1987.
  9. ^ "TSA Pre✓® expands to Hector International Airport". Transportation Security Administration. November 5, 2014. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Zatz, Sydney (January 28, 2025). "Update on Hector International Airport construction". Valley News Live. Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  11. ^ "Terminal Expansion Project Fact Sheet" (PDF). Hector International Airport. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 28, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  12. ^ Jurgens, Paul. "Four more passenger gates opening at Hector International Airport next week". The Mighty 790 KFGO | KFGO. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  13. ^ "Hector International Airport's parking garage opens". WDAY Radio - AM 970 and FM 93.1. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  14. ^ Thomaselli, Rich (July 28, 2015). "Close(d) Call For Allegiant Flight at Fargo Airport". TravelPulse. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  15. ^ Hensley, J. J. (January 14, 2020). "Nonstop flights to Nashville: Allegiant announces nine new seasonal destinations". The Tennessean. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  16. ^ Brown, Brandon (July 24, 2025). "Some of the most lucrative flights for Southwest, other airlines go through Phoenix metro". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  17. ^ a b Jurgens, Paul (March 12, 2025). "Hector airport bracing for busy start to spring". The Mighty 790 KFGO. Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  18. ^ "Allegiant will offer nonstop service to Fargo, N.D., starting Feb. 11. | Business Observer". Business Observer. November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  19. ^ "Flight Returns to O'Hare After Departure". NBC Chicago. May 19, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  20. ^ "American adding direct Fargo-Dallas service". MPR News. October 24, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  21. ^ Yeager, Melissa (July 23, 2019). "American Airlines adds winter flights to Florida, Colorado, increases service to Las Vegas". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  22. ^ a b "Tires blow out as commercial jet tries to take off from Fargo airport". Dickinson Press. May 2, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  23. ^ "Delta Airlines to launch daily Fargo-Atlanta flights later this year". KFGO. July 7, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  24. ^ Johnson, Ryan (July 19, 2017). "Frontier Airlines resuming flights from Fargo to Denver". InForum. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  25. ^ Cruz, Penny De La (November 1, 2021). "Frontier Airlines, Orlando International Airport expand service with 14 new direct routes". WKMG. Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  26. ^ a b Tucker, Tom (January 24, 2024). "Major air carrier to offer new roundtrip flight to and from Fargo's Hector International Airport". WDAY Radio - AM 970 and FM 93.1. Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  27. ^ Larson, Chris (November 30, 2025). "Chicago winter storm affects arrivals, departures at Fargo's Hector International Airport". WDAY Radio - AM 970 and FM 93.1. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  28. ^ "Alpine Aviation Flight 1542". FlightAware. July 19, 2025. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  29. ^ "Alpine Aviation Flight 1565 History". FlightAware. July 19, 2025. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  30. ^ "Alpine Air Express - Route Map". Alpine Air Express. See Map. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  31. ^ "Bemidji Aviation Flight 68". FlightAware. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  32. ^ "Bemidji Aviation Flight 84". FlightAware. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  33. ^ Hector International Airport Master Plan Update - Chapter 3 - Facility Requirements (PDF) (Report). 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  34. ^ "Corporate Air Flight 8589". FlightAware. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  35. ^ "Corporate Air Flight 8593". FlightAware. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  36. ^ "Corporate Air Flight 8555". FlightAware. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  37. ^ "Corporate Air Flight 8018". FlightAware. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  38. ^ "Corporate Air Flight 8574". FlightAware. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  39. ^ "Corporate Air Flight 8065". FlightAware. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  40. ^ "UPS to start new service from Fargo direct to main hub". Dickinson Press. July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  41. ^ "OST_R - BTS - Transtats". www.transtats.bts.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  42. ^ a b "December 2025 & Year-End Statistics". fargoairport.com. January 21, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  43. ^ "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  44. ^ Ruppelt, p. 30
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector_Airport