RECORD-COLD TEMPERATURES. STEVE: THANK YOU. THE DES MOINES AIRPORT REACHED A MILESTONE THIS MORNING WHEN , ALLEGIANT AIR ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL BASE TO AIRCRAFT HERE STARTING NEXT YEAR. , KCCI’S ALEX SCHUMAN TELLS US WHY THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL FOR THE IOWA’S LARGEST AIRPORT. ALEX: RIGHT NOW THE PILOTS AND CREWS THAT FLY YOU BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE DES MOINES AIRPORT DON’T ACTUALLY LIVE HERE IN DES MOINES. ALLEGIANT AIR’S BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY MEANS ALL OF THAT WILL CHANGE. >> DES MOINES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WILL BECOME ALEGENT’S 20TH AIRCRAFT BASE. >> ALLEGIANT FULL’S PASSENGERS FROM THE ENTIRE STATE. ALEX: ALLEGIANT AIR ANNOUNCED IT WOULD BECOME THE FIRST AIRLINE TO USE THE AIRPORT AS A BASE FOR AIRCRAFT. RIGHT NOW NO OTHER MAJOR AIRLINE , STATIONS CREW MEMBERS AND PILOTS LIVING IN DES MOINES. >> THEY’RE COMING FROM A DIFFERENT BASE. THEY’RE COMING IN, DROPPING PASSENGERS OFF, RELOADING AND GOING BACK TO SOME OTHER BASE WITH THAT AIRPLANE. ALEX THE DECISION WILL MEAN A320 AIRCRAFT IN DES MOINES AND BRING AT LEAST 66 NEW JOBS. ALLEGIANT SAYS ITS TOTAL INVESTMENT WILL BE AROUND $50 MILLION, AND THE AVERAGE JOB SALARY FOR THESE NEW ROLES WILL BE $90,000. THE PILOTS, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, AND ABOUT 20 MECHANICS WILL BE BASED HERE AS WELL. -- >> THE PILOTS, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, AND ABOUT 20 MECHANICS WILL BE BASED HERE AS WELL. >> THESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE SENDING THEIR KIDS TO LOCAL SCHOOLS, DRINKING COFFEE AT THE COFFEE SHOPS WHERE YOU CAN’T AVOID THE CANDIDATES. ALL THAT LOCAL STUFF. ALEX LOCAL LEADERS SAY : ALLEGIANT’S DECISION HIGHLIGHTS THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE AIRPORT AND STATE. >> WE ARE RECOGNIZED BY PEOPLE NOT AROUND THIS COUNTRY, BUT , AROUND THIS WORLD. ALEX ALLEGIANT BEGAN SERVICE IN : DES MOINES IN 2003. IN 2018, THE AIRLINE SAID IT CARRIED MORE THAN 232,000 ANNUAL PASSENGERS OUT OF DES MOINES AND , SAY 2019 IS ON TRACK TO ECLIPSE THAT NUMBER. >> STEADY GROWTH. WE’RE UP TO EIGHT ROUTES. AND ONCE WE’RE A BASE, WE KNOW WE’LL BE ABLE TO ADD MORE. ALEX NOW YOU HEARD THEM MENTION : THAT THERE COULD BE NEW ROUTES COMING TO DES MOINES. WE ASKED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY WOULDN’T GIVE US ANY KIND OF HINT ON WHAT THOSE ROUTES WOULD BE. AT THE DES MOINES AIRPORT, ALEX
Allegiant announces $50M base, 66 new jobs in Des Moines
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Updated: 5:48 PM CST Nov 8, 2019
State and local officials joined executives from Allegiant Travel Company Friday as the company announced plans to establish a two-aircraft base at Des Moines International Airport. The announcement heralds the leisure airline’s 20thbase of operations, a $50 million investment which will locate two Airbus A320 aircraft in Des Moines, bringing at least 66 new, high-wage jobs to the community. The Las Vegas-based carrier will begin base operations at DSM on May 14, 2020.“For Allegiant to select Des Moines International Airport as a base of operations is a historic day for Des Moines, our airport and the two-and-a-half million passengers who fly through our City each year,” said Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie. “The financial investment and well-paying jobs this brings to our community is significant and most appreciated. And to those flight crews and ground personnel who will be our new neighbors, we say thank you for flying Allegiant and welcome to Des Moines.” Iowa’s capital city and the Greater Des Moines region are the core of one of the fastest growing areas in the Midwest. Home to more than 791,000 residents, the region is known for iconic festivals and events, sports and outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as a burgeoning business environment. In recent years, Des Moines has been named among the nation’s top places to live (US News & World Report, 2018) and top locations for business and careers. (Forbes, 2017) “In many ways today’s announcement is the culmination of a more than 15-year relationship between Allegiant and Des Moines International Airport, where we’ve steadily grown our operation to meet increasing demand,” said Keith Hansen, Allegiant’s vice president of government affairs. “Having locally-based aircraft and crews will open up a wide range of options for new service and more flights throughout the day. We’re excited to bring more opportunities for affordable, convenient travel, and expand Allegiant’s presence as a hometown airline for Hawkeye state residents.”Allegiant began service at DSM in 2003 and currently offers eight non-stop routes – to Orlando-Sanford, St. Pete-Clearwater, Punta Gorda, Destin-Fort Walton Beach and Sarasota, Florida; Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada. Allegiant in 2018 carried more than 232,000 annual passengers through Des Moines, and is on track to eclipse that number in 2019. “The Des Moines International Airport continues to play a critical role in the economic vitality of the region with this announcement,” said Kevin Foley, Des Moines Airport Authority Executive Director. “Iowans continue to prove travel is important to them and DSM is committed to growing air service in our market. Through this partnership with Allegiant, not only will we be adding jobs in our community, we will be opening the door for new destinations and adventures.” Allegiant, which employs more than 4,300 team members across the U.S., plans to immediately begin hiring pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and ground personnel to support the operations. The majority of the new positions are expected to offer salaries that are more than double the state’s average wage. Interested applicants may apply online.“Allegiant’s investment in Greater Des Moines will significantly contribute to the vibrancy of our rapidly growing regional economy,” said Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “The continued advancement of the Des Moines International Airport is one of our strategic priorities, and this expansion project will position DSM for multiple new destinations.”
DES MOINES, Iowa — State and local officials joined executives from Allegiant Travel Company Friday as the company announced plans to establish a two-aircraft base at Des Moines International Airport.
The announcement heralds the leisure airline’s 20thbase of operations, a $50 million investment which will locate two Airbus A320 aircraft in Des Moines, bringing at least 66 new, high-wage jobs to the community. The Las Vegas-based carrier will begin base operations at DSM on May 14, 2020.
“For Allegiant to select Des Moines International Airport as a base of operations is a historic day for Des Moines, our airport and the two-and-a-half million passengers who fly through our City each year,” said Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie. “The financial investment and well-paying jobs this brings to our community is significant and most appreciated. And to those flight crews and ground personnel who will be our new neighbors, we say thank you for flying Allegiant and welcome to Des Moines.”
Iowa’s capital city and the Greater Des Moines region are the core of one of the fastest growing areas in the Midwest. Home to more than 791,000 residents, the region is known for iconic festivals and events, sports and outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as a burgeoning business environment. In recent years, Des Moines has been named among the nation’s top places to live (US News & World Report, 2018) and top locations for business and careers. (Forbes, 2017)
“In many ways today’s announcement is the culmination of a more than 15-year relationship between Allegiant and Des Moines International Airport, where we’ve steadily grown our operation to meet increasing demand,” said Keith Hansen, Allegiant’s vice president of government affairs. “Having locally-based aircraft and crews will open up a wide range of options for new service and more flights throughout the day. We’re excited to bring more opportunities for affordable, convenient travel, and expand Allegiant’s presence as a hometown airline for Hawkeye state residents.”
Allegiant began service at DSM in 2003 and currently offers eight non-stop routes – to Orlando-Sanford, St. Pete-Clearwater, Punta Gorda, Destin-Fort Walton Beach and Sarasota, Florida; Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada. Allegiant in 2018 carried more than 232,000 annual passengers through Des Moines, and is on track to eclipse that number in 2019.
“The Des Moines International Airport continues to play a critical role in the economic vitality of the region with this announcement,” said Kevin Foley, Des Moines Airport Authority Executive Director. “Iowans continue to prove travel is important to them and DSM is committed to growing air service in our market. Through this partnership with Allegiant, not only will we be adding jobs in our community, we will be opening the door for new destinations and adventures.”
Allegiant, which employs more than 4,300 team members across the U.S., plans to immediately begin hiring pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and ground personnel to support the operations. The majority of the new positions are expected to offer salaries that are more than double the state’s average wage. Interested applicants may apply online.
“Allegiant’s investment in Greater Des Moines will significantly contribute to the vibrancy of our rapidly growing regional economy,” said Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “The continued advancement of the Des Moines International Airport is one of our strategic priorities, and this expansion project will position DSM for multiple new destinations.”
