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(Des Moines, IA) -- The Des Moines International Airport is expecting an increase in travelers this Memorial Day weekend.
“We are expecting approximately 20,000 travelers between Friday and Monday, which is about an 11 percent increase compared to last year,” said Sarah Hoodjer with the Des Moines International Airport.
She told WHO Radio News that she recommends arriving at the airport at least 90 minutes before your departure time—and even earlier for passengers who don’t have a Real ID.
“If you don’t have that gold star on your ID, you’ll need to provide another form of identification. TSA has a list on their website, but an example would be bringing a passport along with your ID,” she explained.
This Memorial Day will be the first since the Real ID requirement at airports took effect, but those without a Real ID are still permitted to fly. According to the TSA website, several other forms of ID are accepted, including a permanent resident card, a foreign government-issued passport, and a U.S. passport card.
More flights are departing from Des Moines this holiday weekend than in previous years to accommodate the increased demand for travel.
“This year, we have 203 flights scheduled to depart, compared to 172 last year—an 18 percent increase in flight departures over the holiday weekend,” said Hoodjer.
The Des Moines International Airport advises travelers to arrive earlier than unusual to accommodate for the increase in traveler during the holiday weekend.