.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;}
More seats are being provided on airlines that are flying into, and out of, Des Moines International Airport (DSM). But the same can’t be said for airports in Omaha and Kansas City.

Though Des Moines is enjoying a 7 percent increase in available capacity, Eppley Airfield in Omaha (OMA) and Kansas City International Airport (MCI) are experiencing the opposite – significant drops in capacity.

The Official Airline Guide (OAG) reports that seat capacities at both OMA and MCI are projected to be lower in July 2008 than they were in July 2007. The guide reports indicate that Eppley will experience a 4 percent decline in seat capacity. OAG reported that in July 2007 the Omaha airport reported 58,122 weekly seat departures and is now estimating only 55,991 seat departures for July 2008; a decrease of more than 2,000 seats weekly.

Eppley’s executive director of airport authority, Don Smithey, said that Southwest Airlines plans to add three routes in early September. Last week, DSM also announced that Continental Airlines has added Cleveland to its list of destinations offered out of Des Moines. This news is contrary to the service reductions that other major airlines are instituting nationwide, with both United Airlines and Continental announcing major cuts over the last few weeks.

Furthermore, MCI is experiencing an even greater loss in seat capacity. “July 2008 seat capacity looks to be down 10 percent from 2007,” said Justin Meyer, manager of air service development with the Kansas City Aviation Department. In July 2007, the airport reported 172,478 weekly seat departures and is now estimating only 155,390 seat departures for July 2008; a decrease of more than 17,000 seats weekly.

“The story with Kansas City is that 2006 and 2007 were big growth years, with several carriers, (such as) Midwest and Expressjet, dramatically boosting service with opportunistic schedule additions, new routes and frequencies,” Meyer said. “Of course with a softening economy and rising energy costs, such additions were unsustainable.”

However, while OMA and MCI experience decreased seat capacities, DSM is seeing an increase in daily flights, resulting in an increase in seat capacity. According to the monthly flight schedule provided by DSM, the airport reported an average of 8,475 seats daily on flights in and out of the airport in June 2007, and currently estimates 9,526 daily seats for June 2008; an increase of more than 1,000 seats.

“Practically every seat out of here is full,” said Roy Criss, air service manager at DSM. Criss said the increase in seat capacity is more than likely due to the increase in enplanements, which were close to 1 million last year and are increasing at a 1.5 percent pace this year.

“Fingers crossed, we’re doing OK,” Criss said.

Even though DSM shows the only increase in seat capacity among the three airports, DSM service comes with higher airfares than OMA and MCI, which are both larger airports. OMA and MCI are able to offer lower ticket prices because they serve larger markets. These markets provide more airline options for travelers, facilitating competition among airlines and reducing ticket costs.

“The more seats (available), the lower the price,” Criss said. “Here (DSM), there are fewer seats, higher prices.”

DSM has been served by the same airlines for the last few years, with Allegiant Air becoming the most recent signatory carrier in 2004 when it signed a contract with the airport guaranteeing regularly scheduled air service. Prior to that, Allegiant was considered a charter carrier.