DES MOINES, Iowa — Construction is well underway at the Des Moines International Airport, with the new terminal set to open early 2027.

The decision to build a new terminal came after updates were needed to the existing 75-year-old terminal and concourse.

The new terminal will be located just north of the current terminal. It will offer modern amenities and more gates to allow for more flights and accommodate the increased number of travelers in and out of Des Moines.

Current projects being worked on include adding a skywalk from the new parking garage to the new terminal, a skybridge from the new terminal to the old concourse, and a new de-icing pad to be completed later this month.

Sarah Hoodjer, Communications Manager at the DSM International Airport, said that the new terminal is needed due to the increase in travelers.

“We have more people flying through the airport than we ever have before,” Hoodjer said. “Our front curb has been so congested just with all the passenger traffic that we have now… so it’s really exciting to be able to offer the public a bigger space to wait to get on their flight.”

Hoodjer also said that the airport has welcomed over three million travelers over the past two years – an airport record. June 2025 was the busiest month on record, with over 317,000 people flying in and out of Des Moines. The following month, July, was the second most traveled month with 313,000 travelers.

The increase in travelers comes with the increase in flights and new destinations.

“In this year alone, we’ve welcomed six new routes to Des Moines,” Hoodjer said. “So that’s incredible. Usually, you only see one or two per year. So it’s been really great to just bring all these different routes to central Iowa. And I keep telling the airlines, when we go to talk to them, I feel like if we put a dot on the map, Iowans will get on that plane and they’ll go.”

Some of those new destinations include direct flights to Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Los Angeles. Another direct flight will be added to Fort Myers, Florida, this November.

For more information on the new terminal or to see all flight destinations, click here.