As the summer approaches, families are making travel plans to head out to their favorite destinations.
Many are choosing to commute through the friendly skies rather than hitting the roads, despite rising airfares.
As many Iowa travelers know, booking a flight at Des Moines International Airport might require a pretty penny or two, but is a ticket out of Des Moines any more expensive than other nearby airports?
How does the Des Moines airport rank for number of passengers?
Des Moines isn’t exactly the busiest airport when it comes to boarded passengers, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Des Moines was ranked 85th nationally in regard to total enplaned passengers in 2025. Just shy of 1.6 million passengers departed from the airport in 2025, which surpassed 2024’s total by about 43,000 passengers. In all, 3.25 million used the airport.
The busiest airport, in terms of enplaned passengers, according to DOT, is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
How expensive are flights from the Des Moines airport?
Flights out of Des Moines weren’t too expensive compared to other airports.
The average fare for a flight out of Des Moines was $380.79 in 2025, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Prices climbed somewhat at the end of the year, with the average price for the final three months of the year coming in at $391.14.
When compared to the 100 busiest airports, Des Moines had the 43rd cheapest average airfare.
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What was the average airfare for Des Moines International Airport in years past?
Here’s a look at the year-by-year average airfare in Des Moines dating back to 2021:
Is Des Moines’ airport more expensive than nearby airports?
When compared to other nearby major Midwest airports, Des Moines’ average airfare is among the best of the bunch.
In 2025, there was only one major airport that had a better average airfare than Des Moines. That airport is Chicago O’Hare International. However, Chicago’s average price point in 2025 was only a few dollars better than Des Moines.
Here’s a look at average airfare for major airports in the Midwest in 2025:
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Would it be cheaper to fly or drive from Des Moines?
That all depends.
Travelers would need to factor in the distance between their homes and wherever they may be going.
Just a year ago, the average cost of regular gasoline in Iowa was $3.05 per gallon, according to AAA. As of June 18, the average was $3.63 per gallon, which is down from $4.31 in May.
While it could be cheaper to drive in some instances, there are several other factors to consider, such as the cost to check bags at the airport or the price of meals you may eat while on the road.
AAA’s website has a calculator where you can plug in your destination and the car you’re driving to calculate your fuel cost.
Can you save money flying from a different airport?
While Des Moines’ average airfare is cheaper than most neighboring airports, results will vary based on timing and your destination.
For an individual, the airfare would need to be at least this much cheaper to offset your fuel expenses:
Expenses were calculated using a vehicle that gets 30 miles per gallon. You’ll also need to factor in parking, any required hotel stays and other road-trip expenses.
Emery Glover is an audience engagement specialist for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at eglover@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines airfares beat most Midwest airports. See the trends.
Reporting by Emery Glover, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Emery Glover, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
