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Kansas City International Airport (IATA: MCI, ICAO: KMCI, FAA LID: MCI),
originally named Mid-Continent International Airport, is a public airport
located 15 miles (24 km) northwest of the central business district of Kansas
City, in Platte County, Missouri, United States. In 2007 11.3 million passengers
used the airport.
Kansas City International was ranked No. 1 among medium-size airports in the
J.D. Power and Associates 2007 North America Airport Satisfaction Study
(receiving five out of five stars in all categories except baggage claim in
which it got four) The study considers an airport mid-size when it handles a
capacity of 10 to 30 million passengers a year.
In February 2008, U.S. News & World Report ranked the airport the "3rd least
miserable airport" in the United States, based on the 47 busiest airports in the
country.
Kansas City International Airport currently serves as an airline hub for Midwest
Airlines.
The airport has always been a civilian airport and has never had an Air National
Guard unit assigned to it unlike many major comparable sized airports.
History
Kansas City Industrial Airport
The airport (originally informally called Kansas City Industrial Airport) was
built after the Great Flood of 1951 destroyed the facilities of both of Kansas
City's hometown airlines Mid-Continent Airlines and TWA at Fairfax Airport
across the Missouri River from the city's main Kansas City Downtown Airport
(which was not as severely damaged in the flood).
Fairfax was the main hub for passenger and airmail traffic handled by
Mid-Continent. TWA had its main overhaul base in a former B-25 Bomber factory at
Fairfax although TWA commercial flights flew out of the main downtown airport.
Kansas City was looking to build an airport that could handle 10,000-foot (3,000
m) runways and recognized that its expansion options were limited at the
Downtown airport.
At the time, Kansas City already owned Grandview Airport south of the city which
had ample room for expansion. However, Kansas City chose to build an entirely
new airport north of the city away from the Missouri River following intense
lobbying by Platte County native Jay B. Dillingham, president of the Kansas City
Stockyards which had also been destroyed in the flood.
The specific site just north of the then unincorporated hamlet of Hampton,
Missouri was picked in May 1953 (with an anticipated cost of $23 million) under
the guidance of City Manager L.P. Cookingham. Cookingham Drive is now the main
access road to the airport. Ground was broken in September 1954. The first jet
runways opened in 1956. At about the same time the city donated the southern
Grandview Airport to the United States Air Force to become Richards-Gebaur Air
Force Base.
The airport site was directly across U.S. 71 (now I-29) from the Red Crown
Tourist Court where outlaws Bonnie & Clyde engaged in a 1933 shootout with law
enforcement which ultimately resulted in the death of Clyde's brother Buck
Barrow and the capture of Buck's wife Blanche Barrow.
Mid-Continent International Airport
Although Mid Continent merged with Braniff in 1952, Kansas City decided to name
the new airport on the basis of Mid Continent's historic roots (serving the
Mid-continent Oil Field).
TWA formally signed an agreement to move its overhaul base to the airport in
1954 in which the city built and owned the $18 million base but lease it back to
TWA.
The airport did not have scheduled passenger service until a 1963 Federal
Aviation Agency memo called the Downtown Airport "one of the poorest major
airports in the country for large jet aircraft" and recommended against spending
any more federal dollars on it.
In addition to the expansion limits there were questions whether it could handle
the new Boeing 747). Jets had to make steep climbs and descents to avoid the
downtown skyscrapers on the 200-foot (61 m) high Missouri River bluffs at
Quality Hill at the south end of the runway. Further, Downtown Kansas City was
right in the flight path for takeoffs and landings, resulting in a constant roar
downtown while Mid-Continent was surrounded by open farm land.
TWA's "Airport of the Future"
In 1966 voters in a 24:1 margin approved a $150 million bond issue following a
campaign by Mayor Ilus W. Davis to move the city's main airport to an expanded
Mid-Continent. The city had considered building its new airport five miles (8
km) north of downtown Kansas City in the Missouri River bottoms as well as
locations in southern Jackson County, Missouri, but decided to stick with the
property it already owned.
At the time the airport property was in an unincorporated area of Platte County.
During construction the small town of Platte City, Missouri, annexed the
airport.
Kansas City eventually annexed the airport. Kivett and Myers designed the
terminals and control tower. It was dedicated on October 23, 1972 by Vice
President Spiro Agnew. Labor strife and interruptions raised its cost to $250
million. Kansas City renamed the airport Kansas City International Airport.
Kansas City's two major hub airlines TWA and Braniff along with carriers moved
to the airport.
Many of the design decisions of the airport were driven by primary tenant TWA
which envisioned it would be its hub with 747's and Supersonic Transports
whisking people from America's heartland to all points on the globe. Streets
around the airport had the names of Mexico City Avenue, Brasilia Avenue, Paris
Street, London Avenue, Tel Aviv Avenue and so forth.
TWA vetoed concepts to model the airport on Washington Dulles International
Airport and Tampa International Airport because those two airports had people
movers which it deemed would be too expensive. TWA insisted on a "Drive to Your
Gate" concept with flight gates only 75 feet (23 m) from the roadway (signs
along the roadway identified the specific flights leaving each gate). The
single-level terminals had no stairs. A similar layout was to be implemented at
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
TWA's flawed vision
TWA's vision for the future of flight which had been pioneered by the TWA Flight
Center at JFK Airport in New York City (which also featured cars close to the
gates design) proved obsolete almost from the start.
The terminals turned out to be unfriendly to the 747 since passengers spilled
out of the gate area into the halls. Further, when security checkpoints began
being instituted in the 1970s to stem the tide of hijackings, they were
difficult and expensive to implement since security checkpoints had to be
installed at each gate area rather than at a centralized area.
As a result, passenger services were non-existent downstream of the security
checkpoint in the gate area. No restrooms were available, and there were no
shops, restaurants, newsstands, ATMs or any other passenger services available
without exiting the secure area and being rescreened upon re-entry.
Shortly after the airport opened TWA asked that the terminals be rebuilt to
address these issues. Kansas City, citing the massive cost overruns on a newly
built airport to TWA specification, refused, prompting TWA to move its hub to
Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport in St. Louis, Missouri.
Design
MCI passenger terminals have a unique structure comprising 3 terminals in the
shape of rings. Each ring has short term parking in the center of the ring.
Thus, it is possible for a traveler to park, walk no more than a hundred feet,
and go directly to their gate. Arriving travelers can leave their gate, and walk
immediately out of the terminal without passing through any corridors. The
Kansas City Airport also has several off site airport parking facilities.
Slogans at the time of the bond issue were "The world's shortest walk to fly"
and "Drive to your gate." A proposed 4th ring as well as a fourth 15,100-foot
(4,600 m) runway have never been built. Though, until the new rental car
facility was built, you could see the foundation laid for the 4th terminal.
Kansas City and the airlines have opted against any "people movers" connecting
the three rings. Instead frequent buses take passengers around the rings.
Initially there was a charge of 25 cents to ride the bus. However following a
massive outcry by travelers the charge was lifted and transportation is now
free.
Security
After the establishment of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), MCI
was one of five airports where the TSA has experimented with using independent
contractors to provide all traveler inspector services. The airport uses
FirstLine Transportation Security, an independent contractor who conforms to
TSA's recruiting and training standards. TSA supervises these independent
contractors, but they are not federal employees.
See: TSA Announcement of Private Security Screening Pilot Program
Renovations
A $258 million Terminal Improvement Project was completed in November 2004.
Under lead designer 360 Architecture, the following improvements were made:
* Increased the size of each structural bay to provide larger vestibules,
additional space for concessions, more public seating and improved customer
service
* The addition of retail space at curbside and airside to provide improved
customer service
* A more functional and cost effective signage solution that relocates
associated mechanical ductwork to the apron level below, thus exposing more of
the existing concrete and original structure while allowing more natural light
into the concourse areas.
Other improvements include new finishes throughout, new entrance vestibules to
improve the air lock between the building interior and exterior, new baggage
claim devices, updated retail areas, new exterior glazing and a common design
for ticket counters that includes sunshade devices.
All three terminals now include blue terrazzo floors (which won a 2002 Honor
Award from The National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association), updated
arrival/departure screens and restrooms and concessions are now available inside
passenger holding areas. In May 2007, the final portion of the project (a new
rental car facility and additional art fixtures) were completed.
One major problem remains after the renovation. The modifications necessary to
implement TSA security created a situation where many 'sanitized' gate areas
have only a single restroom stall each for men and women (added during the
renovation); the remaining restrooms are across the hall, which is now outside
the secured area, necessitating an extra trip through TSA security.
In 2006 the airport began offering free Wi-Fi.
As part of the renovation, the airport became one of several in the United
States to offer a washing area for Muslim taxicab drivers, allowing them to
perform their religious ablutions in a safe and sanitary manner. The
installation was funded by the airport taxi license fee.
Facilities and aircraft
Kansas City International Airport covers an area of 10,200 acres (4,128 ha)
which contains three runways. For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006,
the airport had 178,466 aircraft operations, an average of 488 per day: 71%
scheduled commercial, 20% air taxi, 8% general aviation and <1% military.
Proposed Central Terminal
Airport officials and city leaders say the merger of MCI's three terminals into
one terminal is inevitable. They cite the expense of operating several security
checkpoints within each terminal, lack of concessions and retail space beyond
security as well as the operating costs of the airport itself as reason for a
new terminal. Consultants have been hired and five concepts for the future of
the airport have been sketched out.
Through the years Kansas City had continued to invest in the three decentralized
terminal concept by building multi-level parking structures on the inside fields
of each of the "C" terminals -- connected via tunnels.
On December 7th 2007, an update to the airports master plan (Required every 10
years for every major U.S. airport by the FAA) unveiled new plans for a central
terminal.
The proposed master plan emphacised It would be built on vacant property south
of the airfield and would hold a centralized security checkpoint, a concourse
for concessionaires and shops, and four wings for gates. Those wings could be
expanded later, the consultant said. Since the south portion of the airfield is
vacant, construction would in no way hamper current operations. An extension of
runway 1R to the length of 12,000 feet (3,700 m) has been proposed, as well as a
4th 12,000-foot (3,700 m) runway just west of current runway 1L has also been
discussed. The architects working on the new master plans are Landrum & Brown. A
resolution will be offered to the city council in regards to the plan in the
summer of 2008.
MCI instead of KCI
Despite requests from Kansas City, the airport has been unable to change its
original International Air Transport Association (IATA) Mid-Continent
designation of MCI which had already been registered on navigational charts.
Further complicating requests to change the designation, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) at the time reserved all call letters with "K"
or "W" for radio and television stations and so KCI was not viable.
Wichita, Kansas in 1973 laid claim to the Mid-Continent name for its Municipal
Airport (IATA: ICT, ICAO: KICT) after Kansas City abandoned it. However, Wichita
had no luck in changing its IATA designation for the same reasons (including the
forbidden "W").
The downtown Kansas City airport got around the "K" restriction because it was
originally called Municipal Airport and so its designation is MKC and for added
incentive it was in Missouri.
The "W" and "K" restrictions have since been lifted but the IATA is reluctant to
change names that have appeared on navigational charts.
Hubs
MCI currently is a hub for Midwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines also operates a
high number of flights (over 70 daily). However, it does not classify MCI as a
focus city (as Southwest doesn't refer to any city as a "hub").
This airport served as a hub for the now defunct airlines of Eastern Air Lines,
Vanguard Airlines, and Braniff Airways. It was also a former hub for TWA and US
Airways. TWA (through its successor American Airlines) continues to use the
overhaul base although on a diminished 900-employee basis.
At 10,000 acres (40 km²), it is one of the largest airfields in the United
States. In addition to passenger service, the airport is an active general
aviation field, and a very active cargo airport. In 2006 it served 10.6 million
passengers.
Transportation to and from the airport
While MCI is conveniently located on major highways Interstate 29 and Interstate
435, it is 15 miles (24 km) from downtown and even further from common business
destinations in the southern suburbs. The paucity of other transportation
options make renting a car the default option. Most national franchises are
represented at a consolidated rental car facility.
The Kansas City Area Transportation Agency operates one public bus service to
the airport, route 129x. It only operates 18 times per day, between 6 AM and 6
PM, Monday-Friday. It operates between a stop in Terminal C (only) and the
downtown bus center with intermediate stops. Systemwide fare is $1.25 as of
2006.
A number of private scheduled shared shuttle services operate from MCI to
regional cities (including Saint Joseph, Missouri; Columbia, Missouri; Topeka,
Kansas; Lawrence, Kansas); and military bases (Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort
Riley, Kansas; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri).
In November 2006, voters of Kansas City approved a 25-year extension of a
3/8-cent sales tax that will help pay for a light rail system. Initial plans
call for a rail line extending from Kansas City International Airport in the
north, to Swope Park, Starlight Theater Kansas City, and the Kansas City Zoo in
the south, creating another transportation option for travelers in and out of
KCI.
Terminals, airlines, and destinations
Terminal A
Gates A1 - A30
* Air Canada Gates A10 - A12
o Air Canada Jazz (Toronto-Pearson)
* AirTran Airways Gate A15 (Atlanta, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando)
* Great Lakes Airlines Gates A1 - A5 (Burlington (IA), Dodge City, Garden City,
Great Bend, Hays)
* Mesa Airlines Gates A1 - A5 (Harrison)
* Midwest Airlines Gates A19 - A30 (Boston, Fort Lauderdale [ends April 28],
Fort Myers [ends May 3], Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York-LaGuardia, Orlando,
San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Tampa [seasonal], Washington-Reagan)
o Midwest Connect operated by SkyWest (Austin, Colorado Springs [ends April 5],
Columbus (OH) [ends April 4], Madison, Pittsburgh, San Antonio)
* United Airlines Gates A10-A12 (Chicago-O'Hare, Denver)
o United Express operated by GoJet Airlines (Washington-Dulles)
o United Express operated by Mesa Airlines (Chicago-O'Hare)
o United Express operated by Shuttle America (Chicago-O'Hare, Washington-Dulles)
o United Express operated by SkyWest (Chicago-O'Hare, Denver)
* US Airways Gates A1 - A9 (Charlotte, Phoenix)
o US Airways Express operated by Air Midwest (Columbia (MO), Grand Island,
Joplin, Kirksville, Little Rock, Manhattan, McCook, Omaha, Salina)
o US Airways Express operated by Air Wisconsin (Charlotte, Philadelphia,
Washington-Reagan)
o US Airways Express operated by Mesa Airlines (Charlotte, Phoenix)
o US Airways Express operated by PSA Airlines (Charlotte, Philadelphia)
o US Airways Express operated by Republic Airlines (Philadelphia,
Washington-Reagan)
Terminal B
Gates B31 - B60
* Delta Air Lines Gates B56 - B60 (Atlanta, Salt Lake City)
o Delta Connection operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines (Cincinnati/Northern
Kentucky)
o Delta Connection operated by Comair (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky)
o Delta Connection operated by ExpressJet (Salt Lake City)
o Delta Connection operated by SkyWest (Salt Lake City)
* Southwest Airlines Gates B31 - B39 (Albuquerque, Baltimore/Washington,
Chicago-Midway, Dallas-Love, Denver, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles,
Nashville, Oakland, Oklahoma City, Ontario, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland (OR), St.
Louis, Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle/Tacoma, Tampa, Tulsa)
Terminal C
Gates C61 - C90
* American Airlines Gates C76 - C79 (Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth)
o American Eagle (Dallas-Love, Raleigh/Durham)
* Continental Airlines Gates C67 - C69 (Houston-Intercontinental, Newark)
o Continental Express operated by Chautauqua Airlines (Houston-Intercontinental)
o Continental Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines (Cleveland,
Houston-Intercontinental, Newark)
* ExpressJet Airlines Gates C72, C73 (Austin [ends April 1], Jacksonville, New
Orleans, Ontario, Raleigh/Durham, Tucson)
* Frontier Airlines Gates C84, C85 (Cabo San Lucas), Cancún, Denver, Puerto
Vallarta [seasonal])
* Northwest Airlines Gates C61 - C64 (Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul)
o Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba Airlines (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
o Northwest Airlink operated by Pinnacle Airlines (Detroit, Indianapolis,
Minneapolis/St. Paul)
* Skybus Airlines Gates C87, C88 (Columbus (OH))
Future service
Virgin America said that Kansas City would be one of the 30 Cities it would
serve in 5 years.
Popular culture
The Kansas City International Airport was featured in episode 63 of the
Discovery Channel television series Dirty Jobs. The episode featured the
Southwest Airlines baggage handling system and the airport incinerator. It
originally aired on February 20, 2007. An episode set to air later in 2007 will
feature Rowe cleaning out a paint truck at MCI.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
