Des Moines International Airport Announces Record-Breaking Passengers Numbers for 2024

January 13, 2025

DES MOINES, IOWA — (January 13, 2025) Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is proud to announce a
record-breaking achievement: in 2024, DSM welcomed 3,176,952 passengers, surpassing last year’s
historic 3 million milestone by 2.6%. This marks the second consecutive year of exceeding 3 million
travelers and sets a new high for passenger traffic at the airport.

“This milestone reflects the continued strong demand for air travel in Central Iowa,” said Kevin Foley,
DSM Executive Director. “Despite the challenges of being under construction with both the terminal and
the parking garage, and unexpected disruptions, DSM continues to thrive as a vital hub for both business
and leisure travelers.”

The achievement is particularly impressive given the hurdles of 2024. Severe snowstorms in January led
to over 100 flight cancellations, while a nationwide CrowdStrike outage in July caused additional
disruptions. Despite these challenges, DSM’s passenger numbers continued to climb, shining a light on
the importance of the airport’s ongoing terminal construction project.

“This accomplishment underscores the critical need for our new terminal,” Foley added. “As DSM grows,
we’re focused on providing the modern facilities and services our passengers need now and in the years
ahead.”

With record-breaking numbers and an exciting future on the horizon, DSM remains dedicated to
connecting Iowa travelers to the world. In 2025, passengers can look forward to even more options, with
three additional nonstop routes to Boston, Jacksonville, and Philadelphia launching this summer. As
DSM continues to expand, it’s committed to making travel more convenient and accessible for the
community it serves.