The Des Moines International Airport has beefed up security to prevent further terrorist attacks on the United States.

The fear of flying hasn’t affected Michael Crum, professor of logistics operations and management information systems. He flew out of the Des Moines International Airport Thursday without hesitation.

“I think this will be one of the safest times to travel due to the national sensitivity of security in airports,” Crum said.

His flight was scheduled to leave at 4 p.m. for St. Louis. Crum left Ames about three hours early.

“My travel agent suggested I give myself two hours to check-in,” he said.

Details about what the Des Moines International Airport is doing to increase security are not being released.

“I can’t be specific about the extra security measures, because the more everyone knows about the security, the less security it is,” said Michael Audino, spokesperson for the airport. “In general, we have increased the security personnel around the airport.”

He said extra personnel were placed at the parking garages and the airport terminals. Individual airlines have joined the effort by adding extra security personnel to its check-in and ticket counters.

Audino said the airport received extra personnel from the Des Moines Police Department. However, he said, the airport will be executing a contract with a private security firm within the next several days.

Sgt. Dave Elrod, Des Moines Police Department, said the department has 17 officers at the airport throughout the day. In the past, there was only one officer on duty at the airport at a time.

He said most of the officers are at the airport during the day.

“During the evening hours, most of the flights are gone and the airport is basically closed down,” he said.

Elrod said he doubts the airport will ever go back to having only one officer on duty at a time. However, the department is facing a staffing challenge with the increase in security personnel needed.

“They have to come from somewhere, so right now we have less officers on the street,” Elrod said. “We’re going to be shorthanded for awhile.”

Audino said travelers should be aware of the tightened security when they travel through the Des Moines airport.

“Travelers should expect their vehicles to be visually inspected when they enter the parking areas,” Audino said.

Security personnel will be visually checking passengers’ baggage as well, he said.

“They will be opening luggage and looking in, so have clean clothes in there,” he said.

Travelers should also be aware of tighter restrictions for carry-on luggage, Audino said. Though two carry-ons are still permitted, they would like to limit it to one.

Sharp objects, such as letter openers and fingernail clippers, are being discouraged from carry-on luggage, he said.

“If a person needs such items, they need to pack them in luggage that is being checked-in.”

Audino said the airport is encouraging travelers to allow two hours instead of the traditional one hour in order to pass the extra security .

Audino also said the Des Moines International Airport is seeing about 40 percent of the travelers that it normally would.

“We are seeing more now than we did at the beginning of the week,” he said. “So, slowly, but surely, people are getting back to their normal traveling routines.”

Audino said he believes the lack of travelers is due to a combination of fear and the canceling of vacations because of work that needs to be done after last week’s events.