Six commercial airlines offer service from DSM (American, Allegiant, Delta, Frontier, Southwest and United).

In 1929, the Iowa General Assembly passed a law allowing cities to sell bonds and levy assessments to build municipal airports.

Over 80 sites were considered for the Des Moines Airport until a decision was made to build on 160 acres (0.65 km²) of farmland south of the city.

[7] Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 919,990 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008,[10] 853,596 in 2009[11] and 932,828 in 2011.

The project, designed by Brooks Borg Skiles AE LLP,[14] included new carpets, paint, gate counters, seating, a new ceiling, signage, and a fire sprinkler system.

The plan also includes US Customs and Border Protection for the airport to allow processing of international passengers.

[1][17] In the year ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 66,320 aircraft operations, average 182 per day: 44% airline, 9% air taxi, 44% general aviation and 4% military.

[18] The Iowa Air National Guard has occupied an area located at the end of runway 13/31 since the 1960s and has been home to the 132nd Wing.

With the increased need of remotely piloted aircraft, Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and cyber warfare in the 21st century the U.S. Air Force transitioned the 132nd from a F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter unit to an ISR and cyber warfare unit starting in 2013.

This ended the 132nd's nearly 70-year history as a fighter wing, having previously flown P-51 Mustangs, then F-84 Thunderstreaks, F-100 Super Sabres, and A-7 Corsair IIs, finally transitioning to the F-16 Falcon in the 1980s.

5944, which allowed airports continued access to FAA grant funding by classifying remotely piloted vehicle operations as aeronautical.

On December 2, 1978, Douglas C-47A N41447 of SMB Stage Line crashed short of the runway while on a cargo flight from Chicago, Illinois.

[44] On November 25, 1985, a Rockwell Aero Commander crashed on approach due to icing and possibly wake turbulence, killing the pilot and six members of the Iowa State University women's cross country team.

The aircraft clipped the end of the runway fence with its landing gear, making the nose of the craft dip into the snow.