Williston Basin International Airport

What Williston Basin International Airport does

Williston Basin International Airport (IATA: XWA) is a municipal airport owned and operated by the City of Williston, North Dakota, functioning as the primary commercial aviation gateway for the Bakken oil-producing region of western North Dakota and eastern Montana. Established in 2019, the facility provides scheduled passenger service through three carrier partners — Delta, United, and SunCountry — and supports general aviation operations, including Fixed Based Operator services for private pilots and aircraft owners. The airport is administered by a lean municipal staff led by Airport Director Ryan O'Rear and Assistant Airport Director Glenn Marshall, supplemented by operations supervisors, operations specialists, maintenance technicians, an admin services manager, a maintenance manager, an HR coordinator, and part-time operations support.

Name

Williston Basin International Airport

Legal name

Williston Basin International Airport

Website

https://flywilliston.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Williston Basin International Airport is a City of Williston-owned municipal airport serving western North Dakota's Bakken oil region, providing commercial flights via Delta, United, and SunCountry alongside general aviation, terminal amenities, and a non-traveler visitor access program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations / Regional Aviation Services

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Aviation Terminals & FBO Services (THABAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Essential Air Service (EAS) & Subsidized Regional Operators (THABACAC)

Keywords

• Commercial aviation services
• Airport terminal operations
• General aviation facilities
• Ground transportation services
• Airshow event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Williston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Williston Basin International Airport operates as a regional commercial-service airport providing scheduled passenger flights via Delta, United, and SunCountry, general aviation services through a Fixed Based Operator, ground transportation (taxis, rental cars, parking), terminal concessions (Refinery Kitchen and Bar), and amenities including a children's play area, gaming area, and mother's care area. It additionally offers the XWA PASS program, a TSA-vetted visitor access program enabling non-travelers to enter the secure area, and hosts an annual airshow event.

Product overview

Williston Basin International Airport operates as a regional airport facility offering passenger air travel services, ground transportation, and terminal amenities. The airport's primary product offerings include the XWA PASS visitor access program, food and beverage concessions (Refinery Kitchen and Bar), licensed ground transportation services, terminal amenities (ATM, children's play area, gaming, mother's care area, free Wi-Fi), and periodic airshow events. The airport serves commercial airline passengers through partner carriers (Delta, United, SunCountry) and provides general aviation services. The XWA PASS Program is a distinctive non-traveler access offering that enables approved visitors to enter secure areas for personal use and enjoyment, subject to TSA vetting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• XWA PASS Program: A program for non-travelers to experience the airport, allowing them to greet arriving passengers, accompany traveling family members to gates, shop and dine post-security, watch aircraft, and participate in XWA-sponsored events.

Products and services

• XWA PASS Program

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Watford City Airport (S25): Small general aviation airport directly within the Bakken oil region serving energy industry flight activity; comparable peer for general aviation demand, FBO services, and energy-driven traffic dynamics.
• Bismarck Airport (BIS): State capital airport in North Dakota operating commercial service with multiple carriers and providing general aviation facilities; comparable in scale, regional scope, and municipal ownership structure to Williston Basin International Airport.
• Minot International Airport (MOT): Regional commercial airport in north-central North Dakota serving energy and agriculture markets with airline passenger service and general aviation; directly comparable peer in catchment, scale, and service mix to XWA.
• Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK): Western North Dakota airport directly serving the Bakken oil region with commercial passenger service and general aviation; closest comparable peer given overlapping catchment and economic base.
• Grand Forks International Airport (GFK): North Dakota regional airport providing commercial airline service and general aviation facilities to a similar-sized regional catchment; comparable municipal airport peer.

Broad incumbents

• Fargo Airport Authority (FAR): Largest North Dakota airport offering commercial airline service, general aviation, and broader operations; relevant larger-incumbent peer for understanding pricing, service, and concession economics in the same state market.

Regional players

• Glasgow Airport (GGW): Small northeastern Montana regional airport serving an energy and agriculture catchment with general aviation and limited scheduled service; comparable rural commercial-service peer.
• Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport (SDY): Small Montana airport in the Bakken-adjacent trade area offering general aviation and limited commercial service; comparable peer given overlap with Williston Basin's catchment and energy-driven demand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.cityofwilliston.com
• Xx.com/isnsloulinfield
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sloulin-field-international-airport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Williston Basin International Airport