Des Moines airport likely to feel effects of national flight reduction
By Beau Bowman
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DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Lawmakers in Washington are working to reach an agreement, and the potential impact on air travel is already causing concern. Starting Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration plans to reduce flights by up to 10% at 40 airports across the country. While Des Moines International Airport is not on the list, its direct flights to affected airports could still feel the ripple effects.
Clinton Torp, chief operations officer at the Des Moines airport, acknowledged the lack of clear guidance on how flights will be selected for cancellation.
“The trickle down will occur throughout the nation, and we’ll likely see some of that in Des Moines,” Torp said.
He advised passengers to stay vigilant by monitoring flight statuses through airline apps.
“Hopefully, more of that information will come shortly,” he said.
Torp also noted that airlines might reroute passengers through unusual connections to reach destinations that are typically served by direct flights.
“I think what will end up happening is a lot of the airlines will end up having to reposition people, so you might have direct flight to Chicago, you might have to go through another airport to get to Chicago,” he said.
The FAA’s flight reductions are expected to begin with 4% of flights on Friday, gradually increasing to 10%. Travelers are encouraged to stay informed and flexible as the situation develops.
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