Des Moines Airport Passenger Count at Record Pace

A passenger drops his bags off at the Transportation Security Administration baggage inspection station, Thursday, July 20, 2006, at the Des Moines International Airport in Des Moines, Iowa. The Iowa Transportation Commission approved its 2007 aviation program last week, which included $580,140 for the Des Moines airport. The money could help pay for improvements that would allow installation of an explosive detection system behind the airline ticket counters, eliminating the need for customers to carry bags to a separate TSA baggage screening area. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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By Kara Kelly

Story Created: Jul 2, 2012 at 6:22 AM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 2, 2012 at 12:58 PM CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Des Moines airport is serving passengers at a record pace that could top 2 million this year.

The Des Moines Register reports that industry officials attribute the passenger growth to an improved Iowa economy and existing air carriers adding capacity.

Business is expected to improve even more when low-cost provider Southwest Airlines begins operations in Des Moines on Sept. 30.

More than 820,500 travelers passed through the Des Moines airport from January through May, up nearly 10 percent from last year. That puts the airport in a position to surpass 2004, its best year, when it served 1.99 million passengers.

Passenger growth in Des Moines counters the national trend. The Federal Aviation Administration says the number of flights nationally has dipped slightly.

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