Des Moines International Airport

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Des Moines International Airport

IATA: DSM – ICAO: KDSM – FAA: DSM
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner City of Des Moines
Location Des Moines, Iowa
Elevation AMSL 958 ft / 292 m
Coordinates 41°32′02″N 093°39′47″W / 41.53389°N 93.66306°W / 41.53389; -93.66306
Website www.dsmairport.com
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5/23 9,003 2,744 Asphalt/Concrete
13/31 9,001 2,744 Asphalt
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Des Moines International Airport (IATA: DSM, ICAO: KDSM, FAA LID: DSM) is a small hub primary located three miles (5 km) southwest of the central business district of Des Moines, a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. This airport is publicly owned by the City of Des Moines.[1] The airport serves the Des Moines metropolitan area with 19 connections to major airline hubs.

Contents

[edit] History

The drop off area of the airport

During the 1920s, the Des Moines area had several small private airports that catered to general aviation and air mail. In 1929, the Iowa General Assembly passed a law allowing cities to sell bonds and levy assessments in order to build municipal airports. Over 80 different sites were considered for the Des Moines Airport until a decision was made to build on 160 acres (0.65 km²) of farmland on the south side of the city. Construction of the airport began in 1932 and was completed in 1933. The airport's first passenger terminal was built shortly after the airport was completed. It was replaced by a new terminal in 1950 that has been expanded and renovated several times since then. The airport itself has expanded several times from its original 160-acre (0.65 km2) site and now covers 2,300 acres (9.3 km²) of land.

The airport was originally governed by the City of Des Moines' Parks Department. A separate Aviation Department was established by the city during the 1960s, and in 1982, a separate Aviation Policy Advisory Board was established. The airport was renamed the Des Moines International Airport in 1986 to acknowledge the presence of a United States Customs Service office at the airport.

Eppley Airfield in Omaha and the Kansas City International Airport compete with Des Moines International for business. However, few Des Moines passengers use either airport thanks to increased non-stop service and decreased ticket prices at Des Moines International. Another reason for the improvement in local usage is credited to Des Moines International Airport's television, radio, billboard, and sports ads. These ads point out that passengers who choose to fly out of Omaha or Kansas City prevent Des Moines from attracting new airlines and keep local ticket prices high. Des Moines also has discount service from Allegiant Air, not available at either Omaha or Kansas City.

The result has been record-breaking years, and the airport handled a record 1,990,167 passengers in 2004; that figure dropped to 1,903,573 in 2005 but increased to 1,959,393 in 2006. In 2007 the airport saw 1,982,485 passengers go through the airport, an increase over the past year. In 2008 the airport saw a decrease in passenger traffic due to the economic downturn seeing passenger traffic drop to a 5-year low of 1,896,389. [2]


In August 2007, Des Moines International was chosen by Mesaba Airlines, also called Northwest Airlink, to build a maintenance facility at the airport. This facility serves as the hub of maintenance for the whole airline. The facility opened on February 9, 2009.

In February 2009, Delta Air Lines announced that the airline was bringing service to Salt Lake City from DSM after canceling service in 2008. Delta Air Lines also announced that DSM was getting a second flight to New York. Also, Allegiant Airlines announced that DSM was getting a new service between DSM and Los Angeles.

[edit] Expansion

The airport main lobby area.

Interior renovation work began in 2009 on the airport and is scheduled to be completed in 2010. The project includes new carpets, paint, gate counters, seating, a new ceiling, signage, and a fire sprinkler system. Also included in the upgrade is a common-use project allowing any airline to use any gate at the airport. The airport is also modernizing their baggage handling capabilities with expanded processing facilities.

In addition to work inside the passenger terminal, the airport is planning a rental car terminal, new parking facilities, a new 5,000 foot (to be extended to 9,000 feet in a later phase) runway, and a new GA apron. The new GA apron is in response to the failure of a westside reliever proposal and tightening space in the current GA area.

[edit] Statistics

Aircraft based on the field: 125, Single engine airplanes: 56, Multi engine airplanes: 28, Jet airplanes: 23, Helicopters: 1, Military aircraft: 17

Aircraft operations: avg 333/day

36% commercial, 34% local general aviation, 27% transient general aviation, 3% military

1,982,633 passengers used the airport in 2007, down from the 2004 record of 1,990,167.

[edit] Airlines and destinations

[edit] Concourse A

Airlines Destinations
Allegiant Air Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando-Sanford, St. Petersburg/Clearwater
Delta Connection operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines Atlanta, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
Delta Connection operated by Comair Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, New York-LaGuardia
Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines Salt Lake City
Midwest Connect operated by SkyWest Airlines Milwaukee
United Airlines Chicago-O'Hare, Denver
United Express operated by Mesa Airlines Chicago-O'Hare
United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines Chicago-O'Hare, Denver

[edit] Concourse C

Airlines Destinations
AmericanConnection operated by Chautauqua Airlines St. Louis
American Eagle Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, St. Louis
Continental Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines Houston-Intercontinental
Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba Airlines Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Northwest Airlink operated by Pinnacle Airlines Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Washington-Reagan
US Airways Express operated by Mesa Airlines Phoenix

[edit] Cargo

[edit] Incidents

On December 1, 2007, a United Express plane carrying 44 passengers slid off a taxiway while taxiing to the runway for takeoff. No one was injured, but the airport was closed for seven hours after the incident because of the winter storm moving through the area.

On March 13, 2008, an Atlanta-bound ASA (Delta 4704) flight was delayed more than five hours when a mouse was discovered shortly before take-off from DSM. Officials delayed the flight to inspect the plane for any damage that the mouse may have caused. Maintenance crews checked wiring and components on the aircraft. The flight took off at 11:39am.[3]

On July 8, 2008, a Des Moines bound, Denver originating United Airlines flight was delayed for more than six hours after a passenger found ticks on the plane from Washington, DC to Denver. The plane was further delayed because of storms in Denver. [4]

On July 31, 2008, a Northwest Airlines 757 from Detroit, bound for Los Angeles landed safely at the airport after the pilot thought he smelled fumes in the cockpit. Northwest brought in another plane from Minneapolis to complete the passengers' journey to Los Angeles [5]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b FAA Airport Master Record for DSM (Form 5010 PDF)
  2. ^ "Historical Passenger Stats". dsmairport.com. http://www.dsmairport.com/PDF/Historical%20Passenger%20Stats.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
  3. ^ "Mouse can't hold back jet". desmoinesregister.com. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080313/NEWS/80313014/0/NEWS10. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
  4. ^ Ticks on a plane: Denver to Des Moines flight delayed - Flights: Airfare, flight tracker, delays, miles tracker & airport news - Today in the Sky - USATODAY.com
  5. ^ WHO TV - Des Moines: 757 Bound for LA Diverted to Des Moines Airport

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Moines_International_Airport"
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