Des Moines International Airport | |||
---|---|---|---|
IATA: DSM – ICAO: KDSM – FAA LID: DSM | |||
Summary | |||
Airport type | Public | ||
Owner | Des Moines Airport Authority | ||
Serves | Des Moines, Iowa | ||
Elevation AMSL | 958 ft / 292 m | ||
Coordinates | |||
Website | |||
Maps | |||
FAA airport diagram | |||
DSM
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Runways | |||
Direction | Length | Surface | |
ft | m | ||
5/23 | 9,003 | 2,744 | Asphalt/Concrete |
13/31 | 9,002 | 2,744 | Asphalt |
Statistics (2010) | |||
Aircraft operations | 83,744 | ||
Based aircraft | 125 | ||
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] |
Des Moines International Airport (IATA: DSM, ICAO: KDSM, FAA LID: DSM) is a public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of Des Moines, a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The airport serves the Des Moines metropolitan area with 19 connections to major airline hubs. In 2011, it was reported that DSM is now the 85th busiest airport in the United States by passenger traffic.
This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a primary commercial service airport.[2] As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 919,990 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008,[3] 853,596 enplanements in 2009, and 898,840 in 2010.[4]
On November 1, 2011, the City of Des Moines transferred control of the airport from the city to the Des Moines Airport Authority. The city retains ownership of the land but transfers title to all property and equipment to the Authority. In turn, the authority will agree to a 99-year lease on the land.[5]
In addition to commercial operations, the airport is also hosts the 132d Fighter Wing.
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During the 1920s, the Des Moines area had several small private airports that catered to general aviation and airmail. 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.
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.[6]
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.
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. A new restroom is also being added to the C concourse to allow for future concourse expansion. The airport is modernizing baggage handling capabilities with expanded processing facilities as well.
In addition to work inside the passenger terminal, the airport is building a rental car facility and new parking facilities. It is also planning a new 5,000-foot runway (to be extended to 9,000 feet (2,700 m) in a later phase), and a new GA apron. The new GA apron is partially in response to the failure of a reliever proposal in Adel, Iowa and restricted space in the current GA area.
Des Moines International Airport covers an area of 2,625 acres (1,062 ha) at an elevation of 958 feet (292 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways: 5/23 is 9,003 by 150 feet (2,744 x 46 m) with an asphalt and concrete surface; 13/31 is 9,002 by 150 feet (2,744 x 46 m) with an asphalt surface.[1]
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2010, the airport had 83,744 aircraft operations, an average of 229 per day: 56% scheduled commercial, 39% general aviation, and 5% military. At that time there were 125 aircraft based at this airport: 45% single-engine, 22% multi-engine, 18% jet, 1% helicopter, and 14% military.[1]
As of January 2011, United Airlines is the largest operator out of DSM Handling 32% of passengers, followed by Delta Air Lines (29%), American Eagle (17%), Allegiant Airlines (8%), Frontier Airlines (6%), U.S. Airways (5%), and AirTran (3%).[7]
The Des Moines Terminal is divided into 2 concourses; concourse A with gates A1-A5(A-E), and concourse C, with gates C1-C7.
The following airlines offer scheduled passenger service:
Airlines | Destinations | Concourse |
---|---|---|
AirTran Airways | Milwaukee | A |
Allegiant Air | Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando-Sanford, St. Petersburg/Clearwater | A |
American Airlines | Dallas/Fort Worth [Begins January 31] | C |
American Eagle | Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth | C |
Delta Air Lines | Atlanta | C |
Delta Connection operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines | Atlanta, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul | C |
Delta Connection operated by Comair | Seasonal: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky | C |
Delta Connection operated by Compass Airlines | Minneapolis/St. Paul | C |
Delta Connection operated by Mesaba Airlines | Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Washington-National [ends July 10] | C |
Delta Connection operated by Pinnacle Airlines | Atlanta, Detroit, Memphis | C |
Frontier Airlines | Denver | A |
Frontier Airlines operated by Republic Airlines | Denver Seasonal: Orlando, Tampa |
A |
United Airlines | Chicago-O'Hare, Denver | A |
United Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines | Chicago-O'Hare, Newark | A, C |
United Express operated by Mesa Airlines | Chicago-O'Hare | A |
United Express operated by Shuttle America | Chicago-O'Hare, Denver | A |
United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines | Chicago-O'Hare, Denver, Houston-Intercontinental | A, C |
US Airways Express operated by Mesa Airlines | Phoenix | C |
US Airways Express operated by PSA Airlines | Charlotte [begins March 25] | C |
Carrier | Passengers (arriving and departing) |
---|---|
American Eagle |
314,000(17.43%)
|
Mesaba |
227,000(12.59%)
|
United |
222,000(12.32%)
|
SkyWest |
160,000(8.87%)
|
Allegiant |
141,000(7.83%)
|
Other |
738,000(40.97%)
|
Rank | Airport | Passengers | Carriers |
---|---|---|---|
1 | O'Hare International Airport | 233,688 | American, United |
2 | Denver International Airport | 208,728 | Frontier, United |
3 | Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport | 125,528 | Delta |
4 | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport | 101,556 | Delta |
5 | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport | 101,088 | American |
6 | General Mitchell International Airport | 79,072 | AirTran |
7 | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport | 67,600 | Delta |
8 | Memphis International Airport | 45,136 | Delta |
9 | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport | 45,136 | US Airways |
10 | George Bush Intercontinental Airport | 31,345 | United |
Airlines | Destinations |
---|---|
Air Net | Denver (Centennial Airport), DuPage, Omaha, Rochester MN |
FedEx Express | Cedar Rapids, Memphis, Madison, Peoria, St. Louis |
Flight Express | Waterloo, Cahokia/St. Louis (Downtown Airport), Fort Dodge, Kansas City (Downtown Airport) |
UPS Airlines | Burbank, Cedar Rapids, Newark, Spokane, Sacramento, Portland OR, Philadelphia, Louisville, Hartford/Springfield [seasonal], Rockford IL |
On 2 December 1978, Douglas C-47A N41447 of SMB Stage Line crashed short of the runway while on a cargo flight from Chicago, Illinois.[9] Airframe icing was a factor in the accident.[10]
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.[11]
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.[12]
On December 18, 2010, a small red Beechcraft Bonanza crashed while performing an emergency landing at DSM. The Airport Director stated that the small craft had engine problems and turned around for the airport. The aircraft eventually lost the engine and pilot was able to glide to the end of the runway. The aircraft clipped the end of the runway fence with its landing gear, making the nose of the craft dip into the snow. Police and emergency reported only minor injuries.[13]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.