Des Moines Airport (DSM) | Terminal maps | Airport guide (2024)

FAQs

How early should I arrive at DSM airport? ›

How early should I arrive at the airport? To facilitate an on-time departure, it is recommended that you arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes before your flight's departure especially if you are parking your vehicle and checking baggage.

Des Moines International Airport (DSM) in Iowa has broken ground on a new passenger terminal, which will increase the number of available gates at the airport to 18. The $445 million terminal is set to replace the airport's existing terminal, which has 12 gates.

The master plan includes a new terminal (Phase 1A) with the ability to expand through the implementation of two additional phases (Phase 1B and Phase 1C). The Des Moines Airport Authority is committed to creating a passenger experience that is good for both the travelers of today and for those in the future.

Facilities. The airport covers 2,625 acres (1,062 ha) at an elevation of 958 feet (292 m). It has two runways: 5/23 is 6,601 by 150 feet (2,012 x 46 m); 13/31 is 9,001 by 150 feet (2,744 x 46 m).

TSA's wait time standards are under 30 minutes for standard screening lanes and under 10 minutes for TSA PreCheck lanes, according to the agency.

You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item.

As the largest airport in Iowa, located in the capital city, DSM welcomes people from across the country and beyond.

Delta Air Lines handles a majority of the flights that go in and out of Des Moines International Airport (DSM) followed by United Airlines, American Airlines, US Airways, Allegiant Air, Southwest and Frontier Airlines.

Reserved parking is not an option; however, shuttles run approximately every 10 minutes or less to the Grey, Red, and Blue Lots to ensure no matter which lot you park in, you have swift access to the terminal. Real-time track the Grey-Blue shuttles here and the Red shuttles here.

Lift DSM: Terminal Project

The Terminal Program Manual was updated in April 2022, and design began on the new terminal building. The new terminal will sit directly north of the existing terminal and adjacent to Runway 23.

Does DSM airport have WIFI? ›

Whether you are looking to get some work done or are streaming the end of your favorite show, DSM offers free, unlimited Wi-Fi through Boingo. Verizon upgraded 5G service for improved streaming and connection for their customers. Need help connecting?

The Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is the largest airport in Iowa and located in the capital city.

Owned and operated by the City of Des Moines, the airport is a major transit facility in the state, with direct connections to cities in the mid-western US.

It's rare for a commercial airport to have a runway this long. Denver breaks the scale - runway 16L/34R is a whopping 16,000 feet long! That's over 3 miles...or 53 football fields. To understand why, it helps to understand how planes fly.

Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is a medium sized multi-use airport, located south of the city of Des Moines, Iowa, at the western edge of a large residential area.

How early should I get to MGM? We recommend getting to the airport 3 hours early for international travel. Be sure to check estimated travel times when you schedule your pickup so you get to the airport on time.

Arrive early and come prepared

We recommend that you arrive at the airport to check in at a minimum of ninety (90) minutes prior to your scheduled time of departure. For all flights departing SXM Airport between 1 pm and 6 pm, we advise you to check in at least 3 hours prior to scheduled departure.

Arrive Early: Longer lines and wait times may result because of increased security measures. Plan to arrive two (2) hours prior to flight departures. Passengers are strongly encouraged to check with their respective airlines to verify schedules before coming to the Airport.

We recommend that you allow yourself at least and hour and a half before domestic flights and two and a half hours for international flights. This will allow you plenty of time to catch your flight.