Boardings at North Dakota's eight commercial airports in June increased nearly 6 percent over the year, bucking the national trend.

State Aeronautics Commission Director Larry Taborsky says the increase is due to new air service between North Dakota and the cities of Chicago, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.

Taborsky says that nationwide, airline boardings dropped more than 5 percent in June.

In North Dakota, Grand Forks saw the biggest percentage increase, of 9.5 percent. Fargo had the biggest increase in actual passengers, with 1,512 more boardings.

- Associated Press