tour new kci terminal

Complete tour: The new Kansas City airport terminal brings major upgrades

For years, the naysayers put up a big fight against a new airport terminal in Kansas City, Missouri. They liked the convenience of the original facility, which offered the ability to park and practically walk onto the plane. They also didn't want to run the risk of using taxpayer dollars to fund the new $1.5 billion facility, among other issues.

Yet here we are, nearly a decade later, on the cusp of the opening of the glistening new Kansas City International Airport (MCI) terminal — a project filled with blood, sweat and tears for many locals and politicians.

The opposition was strong, but Justin Meyer, the city's deputy director of aviation, kept his head held high. Meyer and many supporters of a new Kansas City International Airport knew that the current aging facility had run its course. After all, the existing Kansas City airport opened in 1972, back when Trans World Airlines was headquartered in Kansas City.

Much has changed since then, including the introduction of the Transportation Security Administration, which took a lot of the convenience out of the existing facility. Each small cluster of gates featured its own checkpoint, a rare setup among airports nationwide.

Fast forward to today, and the new 40-gate terminal is ready for its grand debut on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

In advance of the opening, TPG got a first-look tour of the new terminal — and the upgrades are big enough to attract anyone interested in aviation and airport architecture. No one was visibly prouder than Meyer himself, who choked up at points during the walkthrough as his on-time and on-budget project dazzled the reporters who were in attendance.

A stunning new check-in hall

From the moment you pull up to the curb, the new Kansas City terminal is a night-and-day improvement compared to the existing facilities.

The soaring high overhang protects the first two drop-off lanes from the elements while also giving flyers a very dramatic welcome.

Stepping inside the beautifully adorned check-in hall brings you into a massive centralized space — a big upgrade in terms of both form and function.

Previously, each airline was spread out along different parts of the two circular terminals, making it difficult to know where exactly to get dropped off.

Even worse, each small subset of gates had its own security checkpoint, which often experienced bottlenecks. This made it much more challenging to connect between flights.

Fortunately, that's all history in the new facility since every airline is now under the same roof.

Additionally, with 16 TSA security checkpoints — including priority, TSA PreCheck and Clear — you likely won't need to worry about lines. All 40 gates are connected post-security, so you won't have to worry about figuring out which lane to use to get to your flight.

Even the check-in areas have been improved with the addition of larger spaces, digital signage and an upgraded baggage handling system.

Aside from the efficiency improvements, you may feel like you're in a museum. Everywhere you look, you'll be mesmerized by the 28 unique art installations that comprise the largest-ever public art program in Kansas City's history.

Look up in the check-in hall and you'll find Nick Cave's "The Air Up There," which features a plethora of colorful metal spinners that welcome you into the new space.

Enter on the south side of the facility to see "Let the Music Take You" by George Rodriguez. This is a larger-than-life, nine-piece traveling jazz band that pays homage to the region's jazz history.

If you enter on the north side, you'll discover "Wings" by John Balistreri. This piece resembles airfoils with subtle designs that reflect the region. For example, there's a small red Lockheed Vega 5B painted on one of the wings. Turns out, this was the style of plane Amelia Earhart, who grew up in nearby Atchison, Kansas, flew across the Atlantic in 1932.

The north side will also be home to an outdoor water fountain set in the center of three semicircular gardens. The design is a nod to the shape of the old terminal concourses that are set to be demolished in the coming months.

2 main amenity areas

The new Kansas City terminal has a central spine with two amenity areas that each bisects two piers of gates.

After clearing security, you'll find yourself in the first of two amenity and concessions areas, which was inspired by the downtown jazz music movement of the 1920s and 1930s.

This space is home to a variety of locally inspired and nationally recognized shops and dining outlets, including Parisi Coffee and Meat Mitch, and a few other amenities, such as a business center (available to rent for a yet-to-be-determined fee), a quiet room (open to all) and an air travel experience center (it features a cross-section of a plane to help acclimate infrequent travelers to what to expect during travel).

One of the focal pieces of this space is the "Fountain (KCI)" piece by Leo Villareal. It was designed in tribute to the "City of Fountains" (aka Kansas City). Airport authorities considered installing a real water feature here but decided against it, given the possibility of water damage in the central core of the terminal.

If you're departing on Delta, Southwest or United, you'll need to continue down the 630-foot concourse connector that bridges the first amenity node and the second.

Thanks to the moving walkways along the concourse connector, it takes just a few minutes to get to the beginning of the B gates. Some flyers will likely want to stop and enjoy the small interactive Kansas City historical displays, the hanging "Cloud Gazing" artwork by SoftLab's Michael Szivos and the views through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Once you make it to the B amenity node, you'll quickly find yourself in a replica of Kansas City's popular City Market. Here, you'll notice a variety of dining establishments, including a City Market Food Hall with local outposts of Bo Lings and Buffalo State Pizza Co. & Bar, a fine-dining restaurant by well-reputed Brown & Loe and even a brand-new Delta Sky Club .

At the back of this amenity node, there's a Kansas City barbeque experience with a menu designed by team Black Magic, who recently won the Made for KC BBQ Championship.

If you're wondering why it smells so delicious in this area of the concourse, it's likely because this barbecue outpost is home to two 2,400-pound smokers.

"Could Kansas City now be home to the best airport barbecue in the country?" That's the question I asked myself as the smell of slow-cooked meat wafted through the terminal halls.

There may not be a fountain here, but just look up to see "Ornithology" by Willie Cole. This collection of 12 larger-than-life birds was created entirely from alto saxophones and designed in tribute to Charlie "Yardbird" Parker and his 1946 tune titled "Ornithology."

This City Market-inspired node is also home to a sensory room and an airplane-themed family play zone.

The Sky Club is the airport's only lounge. However, local authorities have submitted a request for proposal through the Vantage Airport Group for a common-use lounge to be located in the A-north concourse.

Kansas City is using street-based pricing at all of its concessionaires, with most major convenience items pegged to the price of a similar item at the nearby QuikTrip gas station on Northwest Barry Road.

4 piers of gates

Stretching out like two arms at each node are the individual gate concourses.

It's hard to overstate how much of an improvement these gate areas are compared to the existing facility. Whether it's the sky-high ceilings, the plethora of natural light, the abundant restrooms or the captivating artwork that you'll find hanging on the walls, you'll no doubt feel like you've entered a 21st-century facility.

Each gate area also offers an abundance of seats, and some even have coworking tables and bar-style chairs. Aviation enthusiasts will no doubt appreciate the floor-to-ceiling windows, which give you a peek into the airside operations and flood the space with plenty of natural light.

No matter where you sit, you'll always be within arm's reach of power. Pick your poison, as there are AC outlets and USB-A and USB-C charging ports available at each seat.

To stay connected, the airport offers free, blazing-fast internet access with download speeds that top 300 Mbps.

Once it's time to board, you'll walk down one of 40 glass-lined jet bridges, which were purposely chosen to give flyers a look at what's going on around them and minimize the sense of claustrophobia that some travelers experience when waiting to get onto the plane.

Perhaps the biggest upgrade is the restroom areas, which feature touchless washing stations (with sloping sinks to avoid spills), a red-green motion-detecting occupancy indicator at each stall and bathroom doors that open outwards to make it easier to enter and exit with a carry-on bag.

In addition to gender-specific restrooms, there are all-gender bathrooms, changing rooms, family restrooms and nursing areas at nearly every major intersection in the new terminal.

The new Kansas City terminal was also designed with accessibility in mind. If you're dropped off at the departures level, you won't need to take any stairs or elevators to get to your gate. There's just one small sloping ramp that leads to each concourse, but it's a very mild grade.

Though all 40 gates are designed for common use, the four concourses will be split as follows:

• B-north: Gates B40 to B52, which are for Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
• B-south: Gates B54 to B69, which are for Southwest Airlines.
• A-north: Gates A1 to A10, which are for Alaska Airlines and American Airlines (a so-called Oneworld Alliance wing).
• A-south: Gates A12 to A20, which are for all other airlines, including arriving international flights.

Welcome to Kansas City, a 21st-century hub

When you arrive at the new Kansas City terminal, you'll take a set of escalators in the main concourse to get to the baggage claim and ground transportation level.

As you descend, you may be mesmerized by what's arguably the most visually attractive piece of art in the entire terminal: the colorful glass "Molten Swing" by Soo Sunny Park.

No matter how you look at the piece, it's sure to sparkle and give off an inviting first impression of Kansas City.

Once downstairs, you'll pass through an automated set of exit doors to the arrivals level, which features seven domestic baggage claim areas.

International arrivals will park at concourse A south, which is home to a new federal inspection station. There is one baggage claim and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility waiting on the arrivals level just steps from the plane.

Once you collect your bags, you'll walk outside to the curb to find your transportation.

The closest curb to the arrivals hall will be reserved for private vehicles and commercial traffic, including rental car shuttles. Ride-hailing services will use the outer curb, which is lined from above with the orange-colored "Sky Prairie" artwork by Jill Anholt.

If you decide to park at the airport, you should have no problem finding a spot in the brand-new 6,100-spot parking garage.

Additionally, the four exit vestibules in the arrivals level are marked with the corresponding row letters for the garage, which should help minimize how much walking you'll need to do to find your car during the cold winter.

Bottom line

The new Kansas City terminal is finally here, and it's a massive upgrade compared to the existing terminal that was designed for a bygone era in aviation history.

The new facility brings 21st-century conveniences to transform the airport into a modern hub for travelers. It's the latest in a string of infrastructure improvements for airports nationwide , but it's perhaps the most thoughtfully designed and beautiful one yet.

Now Open: New Single Terminal at Kansas City International Airport

An all-new air travel journey has arrived in Kansas City.  The new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport  (MCI) represents a total transformation of Kansas City’s passenger experience. Travelers arriving to and departing from the Heart of America will be met with upgraded technology, a long list of locally-inspired amenities and convenient gate access.

Here’s what you can expect the next time your plans take you through MCI.

Convenient Arrivals and Departures

The new, 40-gate terminal features a modern environment with dedicated arrival and departure levels, covered parking in an adjacent garage, moving walkways and consolidated security checkpoints, all designed for easy navigation.

A spacious structure filled with natural light—and Kansas City’s signature fountains—delivers an entirely new experience as travelers move through the terminal and centralized customer service desks are available to provide guidance and additional resources.

The terminal’s long list of upgrades extends all the way to your aircraft door. The new MCI features glass passenger boarding bridges at all 40 gates, providing views of the surrounding airfield as you board your flight. This also makes the Kansas City International Airport the largest all-glass facility in the United States.

A parking garage with 6,200 spaces and a location adjacent to the terminal, plus dedicated curb spaces for taxis, ride sharing platforms and shuttles, were all designed to maintain the airport's convenient experience as travelers arrive and depart.

The terminal is the first in the United States with wireless electric bus charging, building on Kansas City’s existing environmental efforts and leadership—MCI was the first U.S. airport with electric buses.

Accessibility for All

The new MCI features services and spaces designed to welcome all passengers, such as a service animal relief area, military USO and nursing mothers rooms.

The Variety KC Inclusive Family Play Zone offers a simulated aircraft, accessible play spaces and other experiences for children that contribute to making the airport one of the most inclusive and accessible airport terminals in the country.

Local Essentials

Expect to feel a Kansas City connection the moment you land in the Heart of America: More than 80 percent of brands represented in the new MCI are local to the KC region. Shops and restaurants like Charlie Hustle, Urban Café and Stockyards Brewing Co. greet travelers, as well as experiences that introduce iconic KC destinations like the City Market. The terminal’s lineup of concessions also features 17 woman-owned and minority-owned businesses.

When it comes to barbecue, the terminal delivers KC's legendary flavors in big ways. The Made for KC BBQ Championship hosts an annual barbecue competition and awards the winning pitmaster the opportunity to take over a restaurant in Concourse B for one year, with Smoke 'n Magic chosen as the inaugural winner. In Concourse A, travelers will find the Meat Mitch BBQ dining experience.

Resources on the American Royal World Series of Barbecue, the Barbecue Hall of Fame and the Kansas City Barbeque Society are also available within the terminal.

Public art also has a significant presence in the new terminal, with a total of $5.6 million being invested in works from 28 individual artists, including 19 artists who live in the KC area or have local ties. Sculptures, paintings and installations will reflect area history and Kansas City’s cultural cornerstones, from its well-recognized place as a jazz hotbed to its City of Fountains moniker.

Exclusive: KSHB 41 tours new Kansas City International Airport terminal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — We are officially one year out from the completion of the new single terminal at the Kansas City International Airport.

KSHB 41 News was granted exclusive access to capture photos and video while on tour of the progress made on the largest infrastructure project in Kansas City history.

The first question KSHB 41 Anchor Dia Wall asked, was if the project is on time and on budget?

Dan Moylan, development director for Edgemoor, weighed in.

"The answer to that question is yes," Moylan said. "We are on time and on budget and we're very proud to say that at this stage of the game."

Equipment and finishes are being installed in phases from south to north.

In fact, Concourse B is nearly complete with carpet, terrazzo flooring and bathrooms only missing a few fixtures.

However, Concourse A needs a lot more work.

"This space, you can see, has got a lot of the framing up," Moylan said. "They need to put up the drywall. They've got to finish the painting. The terazzo flooring in this space still needs to be done. This is one of the main retail and food and beverage nodes, so it's an intersection point of the connector where people are coming from security to get to their aircraft."

Edgemoor is most excited about the progress on the brand new baggage handling system on the lower level.

"An airport terminal is a baggage handling system with a building around it," Moyland said. "The baggage handling system is coming along very well. There's over two-and-a-half miles of conveyor belt throughout this building and they're about 70% complete with mechanical installation, electrical is just behind that at 50%. That's just a big component that we want to make sure is operational on day one."

For the Kansas Citians who were concerned about convenience, we have news for you.

From the curb to the farthest gate inside the new terminal, it's just 850 steps.

The new parking garage has ample space, which aviation staff believes will make it less likely to fill up.

"The carpet's down under that paper," Justin Meyer, Deputy Director of Aviation said. "This formica that we're walking on is protecting the terazzo floor that's already been done and ground with one polish."

Meyer said he's excited to see the vision come to life.

"I've seen this on a computer screen, the color of the ceiling and what the floor will look like and what the space will feel like," Meyer said. "But being able to actually touch it? It's incredible. It's really incredible."

There's no shortage of cutting-edge technology and innovation inside.

When the new terminal at KCI opens, it will make history with glass boarding bridges.

"You'll be able to see everything that's happening around you as you board," Meyer said. "You'll be able to look in the cockpit and wave to the pilot. I think that will be really, really, special."

The new terminal is set to be the largest all-glass boarding bridge operator in the United States once it opens.

Meyer can't wait for travelers to experience every amenity inside.

"We'll have those kinds of things for the passengers that we've never been able to deliver on before, and are really taking the accessibility and inclusiveness of the travelers in mind in everything that we're doing," he said.

If you're wondering what happens when it's time to open the new terminal, a team will essentially switch everything overnight.

Some passengers will fly out of the old terminal and into the new one.

Although the terminal is scheduled to be complete by March 3, 2023 an opening date has not been set.

There will be several celebrations planned at that time, some open to the public.

KSHB 41 will bring you any details on that as soon as they are released.

Moylan described how the Edgemoor and Build KCI team feels at this point in the construction.

"While it's a phenomenal thing to see this project come to fruition, it's really more gratifying to see the impact that it's going to have on Kansas City," Moylan said.

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A new kci: the biggest stories from opening day of kansas city's new single-terminal airport.

The new terminal is the largest single infrastructure project in the city’s history

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Kansas City's new airport terminal is officially open for business. At just over one million square feet and a budget of $1.5 billion, the new terminal is the largest single infrastructure project in the city’s history. The single terminal features a new look and 50 restaurants and businesses , most of which are based in Kansas City, and an inclusive and accessible playground for children .

It has 40 gates, with the ability to expand to 50 in the future. The new terminal also includes a 6,200-space parking structure.

The new single terminal replaces the old, outdated terminals that opened in November 1972.

People like what they see

The new airport is drawing rave reviews from travelers on its opening day.

Some didn't even realize they'd be flying out of a new airport on Tuesday.

The final flight at the old KCI

At 10:25 p.m. on Monday night, the final flight out of the old terminals departed.

Here is a look at the final boarding call and lineup for Southwest flight 3369, which departed for Chicago.

KMBC’s Jamie Weiss was on that flight and the first flight back into the new KCI terminal.

The first person on the final flight

Gary Morsch from Olathe, Kansas was the very first person to board the final flight at the old KCI.

He's pretty excited about the new place.

"I've been flying in and out of this airport hundreds and hundreds of times of the years," he said. "I've been waiting for a new airport for so long. I'm going to be the first one out. I'm going to say good riddance to this old place."

New KCI includes over 50 restaurants and shops, most are local

There are over 50 restaurants and shops at the new KCI, most which should be familiar for many Kansas Citians.

"You know, we were intentional about making sure we included local businesses so that the world can see what Kansas City truly has to offer," Lavelle Holloway, from Vantage Airport Company, said. "It is very unique. We actually have over 80% of all of our tenants, local, and even the ones that operate national brands are local operators."

First plane arrives at new KCI Airport Terminal to water salute

A Southwest flight from Chicago was the first-ever flight to land at the new KCI Airport Terminal. It received a warm welcome

KMBC was on the first flight into the new terminal!

KMBC 9's Jamie Weiss and photographer Brett Elliot weren't just on the final flight out of the old KCI, they were among the first people to arrive at the new airport as well.

It was a celebratory moment for all of Kansas City.

A women-owned architecture firm is responsible for many designs at the new terminal

DRAW, a women-owned architecture and design firm, began working on the new terminal in 2017, but for one of the firm's leaders, ideas for a terminal started decades ago.

New KCI includes world's first accessible, all-inclusive play zone

Even before the first flight leaves, a feature of the new Kansas City International Airport is making history around the world.

Kansas City is home to the world's first accessible and inclusive play area inside of an airport.

Dozens of families were offered the chance to see it for the first time on Monday.

The ribbon cutting has a special guest, Pete Buttigieg

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Kansas City on Monday to tour the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport.

While in town, Buttigieg also participated in a ribbon cutting at the new terminal along with Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.

Former airport employee reflects on 1972 move from downtown airport to the current KCI

It was Nov. 11, 1972, when the first flight landed at the current KCI terminal. Before that, travelers flew out of the airport downtown.

Jim Watt was there 50 years ago when those horseshoe-shaped terminals first opened up. He worked as a mechanic for Trans World Airlines.

The new KCI airport terminal has been a boon for several minority-owned businesses

any local companies were able to cash in on the building of the new $1.5 billion KCI terminal.

The city made sure that minority businesses were able to get in on this project as well.

New terminal security

The new Kansas City International Airport terminal features a reconfigured security line. Instead of multiple security checkpoints at a handful of gates in multiple terminals, passengers pass through one security area with up to sixteen scanning lines if necessary.

New hope for transatlantic flight?

While KCI’s new terminal has expanded amenities, Kansas City is one of the largest U.S. markets without a transatlantic non-stop flight.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLYKC.COM

Passenger experience

Travelers will be impressed by the wide-open spaces the moment they enter the terminal. Light and airy with a Kansas City feel, including our signature fountains, the new KCI single terminal is a very different journey than before.

The new garage is adjacent to the terminal with plenty of close-in, covered parking. There are now two levels, one for departures and one for arrivals, with clear wayfinding and sightlines. Two moving walkways expedite transfers between the two concourses to make navigating the airport a better experience, and consolidated and flexible security checkpoints with multiple lanes accommodate the ups and downs of passenger volume.

The new KCI Airport single terminal features the kinds of options and amenities travelers have come to expect in large metropolitan airports. KCI Airport has transformed from a drop-off airport into a destination worth exploring. Among the many improvements are:

• Central customer service helpdesks
• Airfield views
• Inclusive play area
• Nursing mothers rooms
• Service animal relief areas
• Military USO
• Gracious crowd circulation
• Art installations
• Flexibility for future changes
• Dedicated commercial curb space for taxis, rideshares, city transit and shuttles

Upscale dining, fast casual and quick bite food and beverage options.

Local and national shops for travel necessities, souvenirs or gifts.

Sip a cocktail, a glass of wine or just relax before your flight.

Travelers will be greeted by performances from local musicians.

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Kansas City's new and improved airport terminal opens this spring. Here's what flyers can expect

KCI's current horseshoe-shaped terminals, built in 1972, lack adequate space, modern security, adequate restrooms or food options. The new, $1.5 billion terminal will fix many of those problems while hopefully attracting more flights and visitors.

Construction of a gleaming new $1.5 billion terminal at Kansas City International Airport is nearly down to finishing touches.

Kansas City residents voted by an overwhelming margin in 2017 to go ahead with the largest infrastructure project in the city’s history, trusting in promises that the new terminal would create a much-improved passenger experience and be good for the region’s economy. Supporters said it would likely result in more flights in and out of Kansas City, including international flights.

At the time of the vote, it was apparent that the airport’s horseshoe-shaped terminals, built in 1972, were obsolete. They lack adequate space or modern security checkpoints, have limited restroom capacity and offer few food and beverage concessions.

“Southwest, our largest carrier, said publicly in 2016 that they throttled back building connections over KC because it’s such a poor connecting experience for passengers,” said Justin Meyer, deputy director of the Kansas City Aviation Department.

“As we eliminate those hurdles our hope is that we would see Southwest and others begin to grow because the facility becomes more flexible for them.”

In fact, Southwest Airlines announced this fall it would add more flights to several existing routes serving KCI in the spring, once the new terminal goes online.

The Beacon recently took part in a tour of the still-developing terminal, which Meyer led.

Inside the skeleton of the roughly 1 million square-foot terminal, more than half of the artwork — created by multiple artists after an intensive selection process — has been installed. Two moving walkways will expedite transfers between two concourses. There are a total of 39 gates.

Accessibility is a key theme in the design of the terminal. Each concourse has a restroom core that includes a water bottle station, a family restroom with an adult-sized changing table, a multiuser restroom, gendered restrooms and service animal relief areas.

The terminal will also include 10 rooms for nursing mothers and infants, a quiet room, two Delta Sky Club lounges and an aircraft cabin simulator made with the front of a scrapped Airbus A321 plane to accommodate autistic passengers who may experience negative reactions to airplane travel.

Meyer said the new terminal would expand KCI’s passenger capacity from about 30,000 passengers a day to more than 50,000.

“We can be twice as busy as we are now and not need to grow,” he said.

With assistance from Joe McBride, marketing and communications manager at the Kansas City Aviation Department, and observations from the tour, The Beacon is sharing answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the new KCI terminal.

What is the official opening date for the new airport terminal?

While the contract completion date with the developer, Edgemoor Infrastructure and Real Estate, is set for March 3, 2023, the actual opening date has yet to be announced. It is expected to be sometime in March, and the exact date will be made public sometime in January.

How will the experience of getting in and out of the airport terminal be different?

According to McBride, the key to more efficient vehicular flow will be separate levels for arriving and departing flights, which will allow for easier passenger pickup and drop-off areas.

“Departing flight-related traffic will be routed to an elevated roadway and a curb in front of a grand check-in hall,” McBride said in an email to The Beacon. “Arriving flight-related traffic will be routed beneath the elevated roadway. Underneath the check-in hall will be baggage claim for all airlines on seven carousels. Passengers arriving on flights will be directed to a central escalator, stair, and elevator leading down to the baggage claim area.”

How will parking be different? Will parking fees increase?

The new terminal will have one large parking garage with 6,200 spaces and an adjacent lot with 780 spaces. Parking fees in the new garage are likely to be slightly higher than the $23 daily rate currently in place, McBride said. The airport will continue to offer economy parking, and those lots will be configured for one terminal instead of three.

Once I reach the terminal, how long will it take me to get to my gate?

“Once through check-in and security screening passengers can easily access all airline gates,” McBride said. “Concourse A is adjacent, so steps are few and times are within two minutes. Other gates are in Concourse B which is served by a connector that has moving walkways on both sides.”

What do I need to know about security check-in? Should I expect it to take longer?

Improved airport security check-in was one of the top selling points for the new terminal. The current system, with security points at each of the three terminals, became obsolete when new procedures were put in place following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. KCI security lanes are cramped and, once through security, passengers are crowded into a small waiting area to await their flights.

McBride described the new system this way: “The rear of the check-in hall will feature a consolidated and flexible security checkpoint with 16 lanes to accommodate the ebb and flow of passenger volume. Average wait times are expected to improve since there will be 16 lanes together rather than fewer lanes at separate checkpoints.”

Will it take longer to pick up my baggage after a flight?

Baggage handling will shift from separate carousels in the different terminals to a central system for all airlines, with seven state-of-the-art carousels,” McBride said. “Baggage wait time is anticipated to be similar to existing waits,” he said.

McBride noted that with the current system, a malfunctioning carousel in one terminal likely will delay passengers picking up their luggage. In the new terminal, airlines can simply move the baggage to a different carousel if an issue develops.

Will I see an increase in nonstop flights? Can I catch any new international flights?

While the aviation department is hoping to see more flights added to the new facility, the number of flights is not determined by the department, but by the airlines themselves.

“During the planning for the terminal, the airlines publicly stated that they could not grow in the existing terminals because of tight spaces and the inability to efficiently connect passengers,” McBride said.

Airlines have suggested, however, that Kansas City could see additional flights with a new terminal. Besides Southwest’s pledge to increase flights, Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines has announced it will begin serving KCI in May 2023, after the terminal opens.

If my flight is delayed, what will my experience of waiting in the new terminal be?

“Travelers will immediately notice the wide-open spaces vs. the current narrow terminals,” McBride said. “The light and airy environment will have a Kansas City feel and will serve as a superb welcome mat for visitors.”

Passengers in the new terminal will be able to choose from 50 retail, food and beverage operators. Unlike with the current arrangement, most concessions and food will be in the secured area, where passengers will spend most of their time. Additional amenities will include help desks, performance areas, art installations, airfield views, inclusive play areas, lounges for members of the military and premium lounges.

What is the first thing visitors will notice when they fly into the new terminal?

As visitors exit the aircraft, they will be greeted by all-glass jet bridges. Inside the terminal, visitors will encounter terrazzo floors and warm, open hemlock wood ceilings.

Visitors will encounter a variety of public art within the terminal. Twenty-eight artists were chosen to participate in the $5.6 million project — the largest amount set aside for public art in Kansas City history. Of the selected artists , 75% have significant Kansas City connections and 75% are women or artists of color.

When visitors exit the concourses, “They will be amazed by the stunning multistory artwork in the atrium emulating a Kansas City fountain,” McBride said. “They will be directed to the lower level arrivals area, viewing artworks adorning the space as they descend escalators and elevators. They will retrace their baggage on one of seven carousels and then step right outside for ground transportation.”

Once the new terminal opens, how can residents share our feedback about our airport experience in a constructive manner?

Staffed customer experience desks and roving volunteers will be available for passengers to share feedback or important information within the terminal. In addition, existing channels such as the feedback form on FlyKCI.com , social media and the airport’s information line allow users to submit feedback.

At the time of the 2017 vote, the cost of the new terminal was estimated at just under $1 billion. The project’s costs are now estimated at $1.5 billion. What happened to drive up the price?

“Following the successful public vote in November 2017 the Aviation Department and its airline partners and the new terminal developer (Edgemoor CWC) spent much of 2018 verifying the scope of the project to ensure it would meet the needs of the airlines and deliver a positive guest experience to travelers,” McBride said. “Through this process the facility grew, adding additional gates (35 to 39) and increasing the size of gate seating areas to reflect the use of larger aircraft at Kansas City International Airport.”

This story was originally published on the Kansas City Beacon, a fellow member of the KC Media Collective.

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