Hector International Adds Two Routes, Prepares for Holiday Rush

The route to Phoenix is a seasonal favorite. Atlanta has also been a seasonal offering in the past, but Delta feels the market is now ready for permanent service.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – As of writing on December 21, the winter’s cold has abated somewhat, but that isn’t stopping folks from fleeing to warmer environs.

The top destination for those leaving Fargo this time of year? Phoenix, Arizona.

“Phoenix is our number one market. That’s the number one place – when people buy tickets out of Fargo, they go to Phoenix,” said Hector International executive director Shawn Dobberstein.

The popular route resumed service, per tradition, just in time for the holidays.

And that’s not all – the next day brought about a new permanent route to Atlanta, Georgia, run by Delta, who had done it on a seasonal basis before deciding the growing Midwestern contingent could handle consistent traffic.

Dobberstein says that the 10% flight reduction during the government shutdown did briefly put a dent in their volume.

“November was hopefully going to be our 20th consecutive record month of boardings, but it wasn’t. We lost over 2,000 seats in the market,” he said.

Now that the flight grid is back to full strength, though, they’re ready for the winter holiday rush just like you should be ready to be at the airport at a responsible time.

Hector is still undergoing that construction in the lower level of the terminal, which is part of the reason you should plan to arrive a bit earlier.

It’s all scheduled to be completed sometime mid-2027.