NOTEBOOK: Things are looking up at the airport
Executive Director Kevin Foley and his colleagues at Des Moines International Airport were full of good news at the Airport Authority Board meeting this morning, ranging from higher food and beverage sales to new flights coming to smooth taxi service.
Here’s a rundown:
Food and beverage service gains
The airport is about a year into its takeover of the restaurant and bars in the terminal. Before, the airport cleared about $775,000 by taking a percentage of sales, said finance director Brian Mulcahey. Now, the airport controls the operations, with Aero Service Group of Minneapolis under contract to operate them. If the restaurants and bars do well, the airport makes more money. If there is a downtown, the airport will take the hit.
Results so far: The revenue has jumped to $1.5 million a year, about what was expected, and the general experience and reviews are vastly improved. Mulcahey said. Said board member Jake Christensen, a Des Moines developer: “It’s nice when the revenue matches the experience, because the experience is so much better.”
Snooping on us, improving business
The airport is pursuing a system that uses Google browser searches to help market directly to you if you, for example, search for or book a trip out of Omaha. Board member Mark Feldmann shook his head. “I know, it’s creepy,” Foley said. “It’s out there, and people are using it.”
While we’re on the topic, the board is going to freshen up a 2014 study that looked at how much business the airport is losing to other airports — which isn’t much anymore, Foley said. “We’ve basically stopped the leakage. Passenger decisions are based on ticket prices, and convenience such as nonstop flights and the length of the layovers. We know we are being checked, but are we failing to capture those people?”
Flights
Foley visited Delta Air Lines officials in Atlanta last week. The Des Moines airport has a good relationship with Delta, which has been pleased with its routes here, Foley said. Delta will add a fourth weekly trip to Detroit next month, after adding a second flight to New York in October. Delta is likely to add a second flight to St. Louis, perhaps in October 2020. They passed on Foley’s big ask — a nonstop flight to Los Angeles. Foley said Delta officials just considered the route too big of a hassle, given LAX conditions, even if it is one of Des Moines residents’ top destinations.
Budget
The airport was $3.1 million ahead in revenue through October, and $600,000 over budget on expenses.
Taxis
The airport shook up the taxi services at the airport after complaints about unregulated taxis. Trans Iowa LC got approval as the sole taxi company originating rides at the airport. In October, 95.5 percent of riders got a taxi immediately, with 98 percent on their way within five minutes and 99.4 percent within 10 minutes.
Here’s a rundown:
Food and beverage service gains
The airport is about a year into its takeover of the restaurant and bars in the terminal. Before, the airport cleared about $775,000 by taking a percentage of sales, said finance director Brian Mulcahey. Now, the airport controls the operations, with Aero Service Group of Minneapolis under contract to operate them. If the restaurants and bars do well, the airport makes more money. If there is a downtown, the airport will take the hit.
Results so far: The revenue has jumped to $1.5 million a year, about what was expected, and the general experience and reviews are vastly improved. Mulcahey said. Said board member Jake Christensen, a Des Moines developer: “It’s nice when the revenue matches the experience, because the experience is so much better.”
Snooping on us, improving business
The airport is pursuing a system that uses Google browser searches to help market directly to you if you, for example, search for or book a trip out of Omaha. Board member Mark Feldmann shook his head. “I know, it’s creepy,” Foley said. “It’s out there, and people are using it.”
While we’re on the topic, the board is going to freshen up a 2014 study that looked at how much business the airport is losing to other airports — which isn’t much anymore, Foley said. “We’ve basically stopped the leakage. Passenger decisions are based on ticket prices, and convenience such as nonstop flights and the length of the layovers. We know we are being checked, but are we failing to capture those people?”
Flights
Foley visited Delta Air Lines officials in Atlanta last week. The Des Moines airport has a good relationship with Delta, which has been pleased with its routes here, Foley said. Delta will add a fourth weekly trip to Detroit next month, after adding a second flight to New York in October. Delta is likely to add a second flight to St. Louis, perhaps in October 2020. They passed on Foley’s big ask — a nonstop flight to Los Angeles. Foley said Delta officials just considered the route too big of a hassle, given LAX conditions, even if it is one of Des Moines residents’ top destinations.
Budget
The airport was $3.1 million ahead in revenue through October, and $600,000 over budget on expenses.
Taxis
The airport shook up the taxi services at the airport after complaints about unregulated taxis. Trans Iowa LC got approval as the sole taxi company originating rides at the airport. In October, 95.5 percent of riders got a taxi immediately, with 98 percent on their way within five minutes and 99.4 percent within 10 minutes.
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