The passenger count at Des Moines International Airport increased 1.5 percent in September, up from the past couple of months but just half of the growth rate the facility needs to support a planned new terminal building. Traffic is up 0.7 percent for the year. Airport officials said they hope new flights will add capacity in the next year, returning growth to levels well above 3 percent, but they fear airlines’ move to newer, bigger jets will mean fewer flights and a loss of seats in Des Moines. A new Delta Air Lines flight to Salt Lake City has helped, but the loss of seats that has come as American Airlines and U.S. Airways prepare to merge has hurt, said Kevin Foley, airport executive director and general manager. The biggest September gain was Southwest Airlines at 17 percent, with Delta close at 15.5 percent. Frontier Airlines’  traffic was off 46.2 percent. Read more