Des Moines International Airport News

[DMRyan]

The 'official" Official thread for any news regarding DSM International.

Airline to announce direct flights from Des Moines to Orlando

By WILLIAM RYBERG
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
March 30, 2005

Non-stop jet service to Orlando, Fla., is expected to return to Des Moines this spring after a seven-year absence.

Low-fare airline Allegiant Air has scheduled a news conference for Thursday in Des Moines, at which the carrier is expected to announce the direct flights.

Des Moines hasn't had non-stop scheduled flights to Orlando, since low-fare carrier AirTran Airways pulled out of the Des Moines market in 1998.

Several airlines serving Des Moines offer flights to Orlando, but Des Moines passengers must change airplanes in a hub city such as Minneapolis, Chicago or Dallas before flying on to Florida.

[NOG]

Doh, you beat me to it. Don't be so hard on the Bad News DSM Airport thread, even if the only bad news in it is the first post.

This is great news though, now we just need the direct flight to NYC back. If I am not mistaken, this is the same Air Line that has tremendous success with their DSM to Vegas route.

[Des Moineser]

Bravo, finally re-utilizing the largest unserved Destination out of the airport. NYC YOU'RE NEXT.

[dogbo]

I find the new DSM airport radio commercials rather interesting. The basic theme of each is that you're basically a dumb a## or sell-out if you utilize any other airport than DSM. I find it interesting that the promo's are so direct. e.g.

"How dare Kansas City..."
"..and shame on those who enable them..."

Very direct and interesting route to take in advertising.

[Joe Mamma]

This is great news for Des MOines. We are one step closer to SWA.

[Ingersoll1978]

What station have you heard that on??? I want to hear that! LOL

[dogbo]

I know I hear the spot every morning during the Bob & Tom show (98.3). Would be sometime between 7:00 - 7:30 a.m.

I pretty much only listen to talk radio, so I may have heard it also on WHO or KXnO (1460 AM).

[Des Moineser]

Any predictions asto when we spread to the West Coast... LA and Seattle would really give a boost, but they would probably come we SW and such. Maybe United or American (has to expand from the American Eagle service first) will have the ability to see Des Moines's potential so that maybe one day our ads won't end in 'One stop from the rest of the world.'
Think Toronto and maybe Cancun as they are heavy international destinations are Iowans. But then so are Jamaica and Hawaii, but I am getting ahead of myself.

[dmluvr]

I havn't heard of these ads.
I have satellite radio in my car and I absolutley refuse to patronize any des moines radio stations except for NPR (kuni 101.7) and KDPS 88.1.
Dogbo---W.H.O.?? Spend a day with Air America and you'll be in heaven!

Yeah buddy, I think non stop flights to jamaica or toronto are still eons away, unfortantly, but that's reality.

[dogbo]

Dogbo---W.H.O.?? Spend a day with Air America and you'll be in heaven!

I can honestly say I've never turned in Air America but would say it's well overdue that the left has some of their own talk radio shows. That said, can't believe I'd be "in heaven" listening to it...unless maybe I'd recently had a lobotomy.

[dmluvr]

oh dogbo...i still like ya buddy, i've got plenty of righty tighty friends!!

[Ingersoll1978]

I love Air America! They are back on the air in Chicago (as of March 31st). I hope they can get on the air here. I'm sure there has to be a couple of radio stations in dire need of a format change.

[dmluvr]

why were they off the air in chicago??
dm had a 'change' in format--it's called 100.3, from joke, to big 'ole joke!!

[DMRyan]

From the DSM Business Record:

More flights for DSM Int'l.

Des Moines International Airport officials announced upcoming service enhancements by three carriers. Starting April 15, America West Airlines will add an additional flight to Phoenix. Midwest Airlines will institute another daily flight to Milwaukee, beginning June 1. United Airlines will add another daily non-stop flight to Denver on June 7. For more information, visit http://www.dsmairport.com.

[DMRyan]

Good news from the DSM Business Record about the success of the new DSM to Washington D.C. route. After losing this slot from another airline, it's nice to see this one stay successful.

Airport announces upgrades to D.C. flight

Northwest Airlines' direct flights between Des Moines and Washington, D.C., started March 1, and already the carrier plans to upgrade to a larger airplane to keep up with a high demand for the service.
Beginning Aug. 23, Northwest will use an ARJ aircraft for the flight, which will increase passenger seating from 44 to 69 and add a 16-seat first-class seating area. The new service will begin selling on May 28.

"Thanks to the support of local travelers, Northwest's non-stop Des Moines-Washington service has been our strongest new route of all time," said Tom Bach, vice president of market planning and Airlink at Northwest Airlines.

[NOG]

"Thanks to the support of local travelers, Northwest's non-stop Des Moines-Washington service has been our strongest new route of all time," said Tom Bach, vice president of market planning and Airlink at Northwest Airlines.

Wow strongest new route of all time. Thats quite a complement.

[DMRyan]

Good news from Des Moines Universal Airport tonight, on the KCCI news at 6 pm.

It appears as if the airport is adding 6 new gates to the concourse, as well as adding new restaurants and waiting areas. Widening the security screening checkpoint area, and the $12 million dollar reconstruction of a runway have already started.

Again, it looks like we won't be seeing a new terminal for a while if they continue to put money into the current one, but at least the airport is growing by enough passengers that new gates and continued expansion projects are warranted.

There's a small blip about it on theiowachannel.com, but the newscast was way more in-depth about the expansion details.

[NewHtsDSM]

That's good news. 6 new gates, restaurant, and waiting areas. That's a lot of additions to a small concourse. I wonder if they will actually be adding on to the concourse structure with a major buildout or just widening the current structure or putting more gates on the ground level.

The airport keeps getting little add ons and bandaids here and there. Would be nice to see a major terminal/concourse area sooner rather than later.... Maybe they could build a new terminal over the top of the old one, then dismantle the old one. They did something like that with the new baggage claim area a few years ago... I know.. dream on...

[Ingersoll1978]

This is an editorial about how Des Moines can get additional carriers and flights. They should plaster this on every door in town.

Want Southwest? Keep DSM busy

By Roy Criss


It was a jolt to see the statement, “Get Southwest in here” in the business survey story in the May 23 Des Moines Business Record. (The statement was about how to improve air service in Des Moines.) It told me the education process is far from complete.

Southwest Airlines Inc. has been in business for more than 30 years. Not until a few months ago did the company decide to enter the Pittsburgh, Pa., market. The Pittsburgh airport boards more than 8 million passengers per year and has 14,000 parking spaces. Des Moines International Airport (DSM) did just short of 1 million enplanements last year and has 4,400 parking spaces.

There is a huge misperception among the public. An airport does not bring a carrier to town. A community attracts a carrier to come to town to do business. There are a number of ways to do that, but the most effective one is to show the airline that the members of the community support their airport. In other words, “If you want my money, you have to come to Des Moines to get it.”

I know that can be tough when the ticket price differential is significant. But the bitter truth is, if you choose to drive to another airport, you will always have to drive to that airport. No airline is going to go to the expense to bring its business to you if you continue to go to it. It will only go where it is convinced it can make a profit.

There is a good reason Kansas City International Airport is spending a lot of money advertising in Central Iowa. It misses your money and the power of your enplanements. It has been using your power for years to attract and retain air service. If we want improved service in Des Moines, we have to invest our power here.

I have had a lot of people say to me, “I had to drive to Omaha or Kansas City to save $100 (or, plug in your figure) on my last flight.” That is why I came up with the “Do the Math” thing. The Internal Revenue Service allows you to deduct 40.5 cents per mile for a business trip in your vehicle. If that is what it is worth on a business trip, does it not follow that it also costs that to operate your car for pleasure, too?

Consider round-trip miles times 40.5 cents, plus parking (someone can drop you off at DSM), plus meals and lodging, if necessary. Now, subtract that from the original ticket price difference. If you are truly saving money and you want to always drive to that airport, then, by all means, go.

In the past year, every carrier serving DSM has enhanced its service because of the increase in enplanements. They have brought in bigger planes, added daily flights to existing markets or started new markets. This is how the industry works. The more passengers available, the more services airlines can provide.

Bottom line: The airline industry landscape is totally different than it was just a few years ago. There was a time when an airline might come to town on a promise. Not anymore. Unless a community wants to subsidize a carrier (trust me, you don’t), that community must prove loyal patronage to its airport to attract the carrier’s attention. If an airline sees that you will not come to it, it will come to you.

DSM has eight carriers providing daily non-stop flights to 15 cities. When you look at other airports with comparable traffic, that is pretty darn good service.

Roy Criss is the marketing consultant at Des Moines International Airport.

[dmluvr]

All I got to say is A fricken men!
So true---so true.

I still can't believe people here drive to omaha or kc anymore for flights.
You have be almost retarded anymore. Seriously, at best, the difference is maybe a 100-150.00 bucks. What the hell?? Your going to drive any where from 2 to 3 1/2 hours, pay the gas, plus possibly for a hotel if you have a way early flight. Even at the end of the day you saved yourself 50 bucks--big deal--I'll pay an extra 50 bucks to support my airport, their employees and their familes along with the investment of getting that 50 bucks back in a few years when we have more air fare options!!

[Ingersoll1978]

When we get settled over there, Kevin will be flying in and out about once a week. I don't think he thinks its worth it either. For myself, I would also fly out of Des Moines.

[Brady]

When my family travels via air in the past few years we've gone thru Des Moines for the better deals -- good for DSM, not so good for CID

[NOG]

There has only been one time I flew out of an airport other than Des Moines (since I moved here). When I got married in Hawaii we flew out of Omaha because it saved us nearly $500. That was 2 1/2 years ago. Since then, Des Moines has gotten much more competive. When I priced my tickets for Amsterdam, there was very little difference between Omaha, Des Moines, Kansas City, and the Twin Cities.

[DMRyan]

I see that DSM added another daily Northwestern flight to Las Vegas.

Here's the scoop on the latest security gate and terminal building expansion. Something defintely needed to be done to the security checkpoint area, but I would like to see money start going to the serious study of a new and relocated terminal building. These band aid repairs on the currently outdated terminal are really starting to add up.

Airport in D.M. to add security lanes

Officials expect the expansion, which is set for Thanksgiving, to improve efficiency.

By FRANK VINLUAN
REGISTER BUSINESS WRITER
August 11, 2005

Security checkpoint waiting times at the Des Moines airport are expected to get faster under an expansion that will double the number of screening lanes.

Last summer, data from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration showed that wait times at the Des Moines airport's security lines were among the longest in the Midwest. The maximum wait - up to 50 minutes at times - has been reduced to 20 minutes or less during busy times, according to data from July and August.

"This expansion will help us process passengers more efficiently," said Jay Brainard, federal security director for Des Moines.

Two new screening lanes are scheduled to open by Thanksgiving, the start of the busy holiday travel season. But until that work is finished, airport officials say, moving through the passage between the main terminal and the concourse could be noisy, dusty and hot. Also, the up escalator will be temporarily closed. The elevators will be working.

When finished, the new screening lanes won't be open all the time. Brainard said they're needed for peak times in the early morning and late afternoon. Wait times during peak periods now average 12 minutes, according to the TSA.

Tom Szary , 60, of Grinnell said he doesn't mind waiting in security lines. He said that after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, people should be willing to give up some time for security.

"To me, that's a minor, insignificant thing to come to an airport two, three hours ahead of time," he said.

His wife, Kathy Szary , 54, said her impression is that Des Moines is more secure than other airports. But she welcomed the expansion.

"I hope that it will make it easier and less time-consuming to get through security," she said.

Stephanie Levi-John , 16, who was visiting Iowa from London, said she knows the security is necessary. But she hopes it can be done faster.

"They need to have more people out there to do searching or whatever so you can be on your way," Levi-John said.

Craig Smith, the Des Moines airport's deputy aviation director, said officials have been planning the $3.9 million expansion since early 2004 to accommodate increasing passenger numbers. The airport screened 997,665 passengers last year, a 9.5 percent increase over 2003.

The airport is paying for the expansion with the passenger facility charge, which is added to airplane tickets. Airports are entitled to a share of that charge for each passenger who boards at the airport. The federal government will pay for the additional screening equipment.

Construction on the expansion began in March but did not affect the interior of the airport until this month. The expansion will also add office space for the Transportation Security Administration, which has been working from leased space scattered throughout the airport. The new office space will be completed this winter.

Eventually, the airport plans to connect the skywalk to the screening area. Ticketed travelers will be able to walk straight from the parking garage to the security checkpoint, Smith said.

The skywalk expansion is not part of the current project, and no budget or timeline has been established for that work.

Currently, 74 screeners staff the security area 16 hours a day. Brainard said that with the expansion, he hopes to hire 14 additional part-time screeners.

[dmluvr]

I'd agree---they totally need to stop di*kn around and plan a new terminal--it's more than past due.

we're just going to keep increasing cost of these minor repairs and such---still though--I guess more than anything elese---for the love of god, could they at least paint the damn terminal and replace those hideous 1970 style carpet and chairs??? If we are stuck with this terminal for 10 more years(which more than likely we are) then they need to do the aforemention things. c'mon now---

[Brady]

I agree....the DSM concourse is soo outdated. The ticket front area - ticketing/baggage claim look pretty nice and modern...but once you get up those stairs...man its terrible.

[dsmwatcher]

The Des Moines terminal is pretty nice you guys! I just moved up here from Springfield,mo, which is only 100,000 less in the metro than Des Moines and it is a joke compared to Dsm. But Springfield just started construction on a new terminal and it kicks ass. But seriously be thankful for now that you don't live in Springfield,mo, where the only thing to do is watch a cardinals game at Hammons Field or go to Bass Pro! Peace out everyone! You can also visit my website to talk about Des Moines or just anything at http://thomaswebster.piczo.com/

[dmluvr]

hey buddy--nice 'lil site you got there---way to bring up your good lovn from missouri.

and it looks like you were a band nerd---sweeeet!!!
I jammed on the trumpet--drums--piano--still play drums--but not much trumpet(which is sad---curse me) sorry for the random rant.

make sure to check out the dmmc.com

[HKG_Flyer1]

I was somewhat amazed to see some speculation here about Southwest Airlines coming to DSM.

For those of you not aware, Sen. Harkin has launched the equivalent of "nuclear war" against Southwest. In July, he co-sponsored the Orwellian-named "True Competition Act." Notwithstanding its name, the only thing this act does is close Dallas Love Field to all commercial air traffic.

Why should Southwest Airlines care? That's where their headquarters and a major hub are located. If Harkin's bill becomes law, Southwest would be forced to abandon its headquarters and maintenance facilities, losing hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. (Harkin's bill doesn't contain any provision for effectively condemning a significant chunk of Southwest's operation).

The reason given by Harkin for sponsoring this bill is to help American Airlines. He appears to believe that unless AA is allowed to maintain its monopoly on the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids routes to Dallas ($1,200 round-trip fares, anyone?), that no one else will provide the service.

Also, he doesn't want to allow Southwest to be able to allow through ticketing and service between Omaha and Dallas (something currently prohibited under and old protectionist law called the Wright Amendment). He appears to believe that allowing Southwest to charge low fares between Omaha and Dallas would somehow hurt Iowa.

The rough equivalent to this would be if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton sponsored a bill to prohibit insurance companies from operating in the Des Moines metropolitan area in an effort to help AIG Insurance from New York.

Harkin's partner in this bizarre quest is Sen. Inhofe from Oklahoma. Inhofe was widely ridiculed and villified in the Oklahoma press, blogs, etc. for sponsoring this bill with Harkin.

Net result... I don't think Southwest has the warm, fuzzies for Iowa given that Harkin is trying to shutter their corporate headquarters and close their Dallas hub.

[kissjrj]

Harkin is a left-wing clown..with all due respect.

JS