KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City City Council will hear results Thursday of an 18-month study on turning KCI Airport into a one-terminal airport.
The company hired to do an 18-month feasibility study on moving from three terminals to one was scheduled to present its findings to council members at 1 p.m. at City Hall.
The agenda item “Aviation New Terminal Update” is at the top of the discussion list.
City officials are considering tearing down Terminal A to build a brand new terminal. It’s estimated to cost about $1.2 million. Leaders are trying to determine how to pay for it. They don’t want to rely on federal funding and are considering asking voters to issue bonds to pay for the project.
Supporters of the plan say KCI offers a poor passenger experience, is operationally insuffiecient, has limited air service and substandard environmental practices. Others have expressed dissatisfaction with security and limited concessions available to passengers. Supports say the benefits of the plan include a state of the art facility, one central security checkpoint instead of the current 16 security checkpoints, better efficiency, a green building that’s viable for future growth.
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The current three-terminal structure opened to the public in 1972 and many believe it should remain, because of the ease it provides. However, airport officials say it’s hard to operate and would costly because it requires multiple security checkpoints.
If the plan is approved, it would take about five years to complete. The airport would move all flights to Terminals B and C and demolish Terminal A to make room for the new building. Terminal B would then become office space.
Read more about KCI’s plan for one terminal.