DES MOINES, Iowa - Des Moines International Airport is moving forward with its plan to allow passengers to drink alcohol at gates while waiting for flights.
Portermill, a bar and restaurant already in the airport, has applied to have its liquor license extended to include a bar and coffee shop.
The airport itself filed paperwork and received approval in November from the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment food and beverages on concourses and at gates.
Airport Executive Director Kevin Foley says a new kiosk near gate 5-C should be up and running by this summer, although it's been delayed. "It's no a huge project, but connecting into this 1948 facility, and making sure we can run lines where we need to run lines, and do all those things is taking a litle longer than we had anticipated," said Foley.
The kioask will offer beer and wine along with sandwiches delivered from Portemill.
Foley says it's a effort to get concessions closer to where the passengers are. "It seems like a long walk back to the restaurant and back to the concession area if you want, whether it be a sandwitch or a drink," Foley said. "And people, once they get to the gate, they don't want to leave the gate."
Alcohol is now served at two restaurant locations, Portermill and Arugula and Rye. Currently, alcohol must be consumed inside those restaurants.
Foley says the new service doesn't mean alcohol will be everywhere at the airport. "It's not the main thrust of this effort," said Foley. "Will it move alcohol to the gates? Sure."
According to the travel and entertainment website Thrillist, alcohol consumption in concourses and at the gate is now allowed in a handful of airports - Nashville International, Chicago’s Midway and O’Hare, George Bush Intercontinental and William P Hobby in Houston, Fort Lauderdale International, Las Vegas McCarran International, Miami International and Tampa International.