Des Moines Register: Allegiant Air plans to open its Des Moines base on July 1, delayed more than a year from its originally planned date due to the coronavirus pandemic. Announcing the plan today, the low-cost carrier said it will invest $50 million in the base, bringing two Airbus A320 aircraft to Des Moines International Airport and adding 66 employees, including pilots, flight attendants and fleet mechanics. Most of the jobs will pay at least twice the state's average wage of $22.19 an hour, Allegiant said.