Kansas City International Airport

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Kansas City International Airport Template:Airport codes is an airport in Kansas City, Missouri, in Platte County.

This airport began life as a small reliever airport for what is now Kansas City Downtown Airport. The downtown airport was very convenient, but was not fit for the jet age, due to its short runway and proximity to the downtown area. In order to accommodate the more demanding jets, the city built the International Airport on the site of the reliever facility, and in 1973, the new airport opened for business. Almost all the airlines that were at the old facility moved to the new airport. This airport served as a hub for the now defunct airlines of, Eastern Airlines, Vanguard Airlines, as well as Braniff Airlines (also out of business) and TWA (now part of American Airlines). Now MCI is a focus city of Midwest Airlines. MCI was a major service facility for TWA, but American retains a skeletal staff of 900 mechanics at the overhaul base. The airport was originally called Mid-Continent International, a fact that is especially confusing since the 'real' Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita, Kansas now uses the IATA code ICT.

MCI is a major airport, but serves more of a role as a "spoke" in the national airline network. 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 2005 it served 9.7 million passengers.

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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.

The airport was originally to be called Mid-Continent International, which is why its International Air Transport Association code is MCI rather than KCI.

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Security issues

The three-ring design makes it one of the most passenger friendly airports in the world, but it was conceived before skyjacking and terrorism became a part of the air travel mentality. Therefore, the airport is very expensive to operate, since rather than having a single security checkpoint to pass through, each cluster of gates (generally 3-5) must have its own x-ray, metal detector and guards. This expense caused TWA to use Lambert field in St. Louis as its hub rather than MCI.

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. TSA uses independent contractor security staff who conform 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

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Status 2004

The $258 million Terminal Improvement Project was completed in November 2004. All three terminals now include blue terrazzo floors, increased retail space, and updated arrival/departure screens. The overall improvement project will continue through 2006, and include a new rental car facility and additional art fixtures.

In November 2004, the city announced that restrooms would be built inside secured passenger holding areas. This has been a constant complaint by passengers -- passengers who need to use the restrooms must exit the gate area, then be re-screened at security to come back into the gate area. The first such facilities have been opened in Terminal B, with more on the way for the rest of the facility.

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Terminals

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Terminal A

Gates 1-30

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Terminal B

Gates 31-60

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Terminal C

Gates 61-90

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External links

Template:Mapit-US-hoodscaleja:カンザス・シティ国際空港

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