Central Iowa radio listeners were recently faced with a version of dueling banjos, as Des Moines International Airport and Kansas City International Airport battled to win over travelers with claims of lower fares and added convenience.

“I think it shows that Kansas City is realizing that we are beginning to carve a niche into their market share, and they are probably trying to recapture that,” said airport marketing coordinator Gary Hagan. Hagan said that several years ago, as many as 30 percent of Central Iowa travelers chose to fly out of airports such as Kansas City International.

But Kansas City International spokesman Joe McBride said the radio advertisements, and a newspaper insert offering discounted parking, were part of a regional advertising campaign that, almost annually, hits cities such as Des Moines, Wichita, Omaha, and Columbia, Mo., that are within driving distance of Kansas City and have been shown to be a source of passengers for the airport.

“We’re just trying to increase our customer base,” McBride said. “That translates into dollars, in terms of parking revenue and landing fees and such, which are down here and in other cities, so that we can be more competitive.”

Des Moines International responded with radio advertisements that reminded Central Iowans to “Do the Math” when they’re shopping for airplane tickets by taking into account the cost of gasoline, meals, parking and time they incur when they fly out of another airport. Even if a flight out of Kansas City is $50 cheaper than one out of Des Moines, the additional travel costs may negate any savings, the airport’s ads argued.

Kansas City International responded with claims that Central Iowans can in fact save money by flying out of that airport. McBride referred to information on flykci.com that compares ticket prices to various cities from Kansas City International and airports in cities such as Des Moines, Omaha and Wichita.

“For the most part it’s cheaper (to fly out of Kansas City), and more than likely it’s going to be a non-stop flight,” he said. “So there is time involved when you’re connecting in some major hub somewhere and sitting there for two or three hours.”

Des Moines’ “Do the Math” initiative, Hagan and airport spokesman Roy Criss say, contributed to record passenger numbers in 2004. Des Moines International set all-time passenger records each month except February, and recorded a 10 percent monthly average passenger increase. From the end of 2002 to the end of 2004, the airport increased total enplanements from just over 883,000 to 997,655.

Though Hagan and Criss say Des Moines International has recaptured a portion of those travelers who in the past have chosen to fly out of Kansas City, McBride said Kansas City International is not suffering. The airport had more than 9.7 million passengers in 2004, 3.9 percent more than in 2003. By advertising in Des Moines and other cities, he said, the airport is simply trying to alert passengers to their options. He said even a minor savings in ticket prices can make a difference to leisure travelers, particularly for large families.

Hagan and Criss are now asking Central Iowans to “invest their power” locally by choosing Des Moines International. Statistics released by the U.S. Department of Transportation have shown that average ticket prices for Des Moines International and Kansas City International differ by less than $30. And with 14 daily non-stop flights and eight carriers, they say, Des Moines is neither underserved nor overpriced.

“Power in that ticket is what Kansas City International and Omaha have been using for years to retain air service and to attract new air service,” Criss said. “And if people want current carriers here to expand and enhance service or they want new carriers to come to town, this is the only way we have to attract them – to build a dedicated customer service base high enough that it convinces someone to come here or for people who are here to expand and enhance their service.

“If you’re taking that power to Kansas City, then you’re always going to have to drive to Kansas City to get on those airplanes because that airline is never going to come here if you’re going to drive there.”