FORT DODGE, Iowa — Things may look and feel a little different if you are flying through Fort Dodge Regional Airport this holiday weekend. That's thanks, in part, to some destinations the airport has added over the past year.
"That's a new thing, and I really appreciate it," said Lu Verne resident Henry Schnakenberg who is finally flying through his nearest airport.
And it wasn't just convenient.
"This is the cheapest I've gone to San Diego at Christmas time," he said, as he arrived for his connecting flight to Denver, Colorado.
Over the past year, the airport has added United Airlines flights to Chicago, Illinois and Denver.
The flights are almost full...through the weekend," said Rhonda Chambers, director of aviation at the regional airport, "So yes, we're we're expecting large crowds."
The main parking lot at the airport filled up on Wednesday. The airport, however, does have plenty of overflow parking available.
Meanwhile, Des Moines International Airport is expecting to see 5,000 passengers through every day over the holiday weekend. While some have canceled their travel plans due to COVID, you're likely not to notice.
"We should be significantly ahead of 2020. Overall, probably about 154% increase over last year," Kayla Kovarna, spokesperson for the airport. "And then as we compare it to those pre-pandemic numbers, record-breaking 2019 we'll be about 83%."
All this comes as the U.S. Attorney's office is warning travelers to be on their best behavior or face steep penalties.
"Federal law prohibits assaults, intimidation and threats of violence that interfere with flight crews and flight attendants, as well as other enumerated criminal acts that occur during flight. Passengers who commit assaults against other passengers are also subject to federal prosecution," the department said in a statement.
The Des Moines Police Department which has officers stationed at the airport will be on alert.
"Federal authorities and us locally are aware that as travel increases your going to see the potential for more conflict the more people we have crammed in small places and the more people trying to get places in a hurry.," said Sgt. Paul Parizek.
On Thursday, United Airlines canceled 120 flights for Christmas Eve, and Delta Airlines canceled 90. Local 5 reached out to both airlines, and each said the cancellations were related to COVID disruptions.
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