Kansas City International Airport
(IATA Code: MCI)
History of Kansas City International Airport
Every good story starts with a celebration. After three days of events, air shows, parties, and exhibits October 21-23, 1972, Kansas City International Airport (MCI) was dedicated by the vice president of the United States, Spiro Agnew. After a few final finishing touches, at 1:22 a.m. on Nov. 11, Kansas City’s new hometown airport officially opened for business. The new airport replaced then-named Kansas City Municipal Airport, which served Kansas City from 1927 until it was deemed too small to expand to meet growing demand.
Home to just a handful of carriers at the time, Kansas City’s new airport proudly boasted jumbo jet runways and the world’s first drive-to-your-gate design. It was the heart of the Heart of America – built with pride by the city, for the city.
Over the next decades, Kansas City International continued to be a destination and a stop for travelers near and far. But in 1990, amid the Persian Gulf Crisis, fuel shortages hit the entire airline industry hard – dropping flights in and out of MCI to record lows.
Faced with a challenge, Kansas City International had to reimagine itself. The vision was clear: Become one of the nation’s most affordable, centralized locations that allows travelers near and far to reach either coast within a mere four hours. The Kansas City Aviation Department established a Marketing Division and began an Air Service Development Program to work with existing and prospective airlines to “grow” Kansas City’s air access to the US and beyond. Slowly but surely MCI bounced back.
Over the years, as Kansas City grew into a world-class city, and Kansas City International grew with it. In late 1994, an entire north/south parallel runway was built, allowing for simultaneous operations that further reduced delays in the already virtually delay-free airport. And just two years later, a new control tower was added to keep up with the growing flight schedule and demands. The once 4,500-acre site began to grow to the 10,000-acre site it is today.
In the late 1990s the Aviation Department determined that the 1960s-era terminals were in need of updating. The $258-million Terminal Improvement Project (TIP) began in April 2001 with a full gutting of the three terminals in a phased approach to keep the terminal operational during the work. Just months later, on September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States using its own aviation system. The attacks also created an urgent need to implement significant increases in security measures across the aviation system worldwide. In Kansas City this meant quickly learning the needs and implementing them into a terminal renovation already underway. Adjustments were made and the project was completed in April 2004. TIP brought new restaurants and shops, updated flight information displays, an upgraded HVAC system, new baggage claim devices, ground transportation kiosks, and new glass.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 impacted passenger usage and air service in Kansas City and throughout the world. The Aviation Department aggressively worked to regain lost air service. Slowly but surely market demand drove Kansas City’s air service back up to exceed the highs of 1989. The Air Service Development effort is ongoing, as the Aviation Department strives to retain and grow access to the world for its citizens. On November 17, 2017, Kansas City residents voted to approve construction on the newest addition to its hometown airport. The biggest infrastructure project in the city’s history will bring 39 new gates, 6,100 new parking spots, and a first-class traveler experience to local travelers and global visitors. Opened on February 28, 2023, the new terminal is meticulously designed for seamless travel from arrival to departure, giving locals and tourists alike a proper KC welcome. To explore more about the Grand Opening of the New Terminal, click here to view our magazine or click on the image below.
Why MCI?
Kansas City International was originally called Mid-Continent International Airport, or MCI, so the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) adopted MCI as the airport's designator code. It's worth noting that U.S. airports cannot use codes beginning with N, K or W as the first letter of the prefix. N is the prefix reserved for aircraft, and K and W are reserved for radio call sign prefixes. For many years, MCI served as the landing strip for the TWA overhaul base and as an alternate airport for the old Kansas City Municipal Airport. When Municipal was deemed too small and unable to grow, terminals and additional runways were built at what is now Kansas City International. Municipal was renamed Kansas City Downtown Airport, and later Kansas City Wheeler Downtown Airport.
About The Kansas City Aviation Department
The Kansas City Aviation Department owns and operates Kansas City International Airport and Kansas City Wheeler Downtown Airport. The Aviation Department’s mission is to provide outstanding airport services in a safe and cost-effective manner for the benefit of citizens, visitors, airlines and customers. The department is an enterprise fund department of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and is supported wholly by airport user charges. No general tax fund revenues are used for the administration, promotion, operation or maintenance of the airports in the system. The department is led by Melissa Cooper. To reach us by phone click here, or contact us online here.
Historic Timeline of Kansas City International Airport
Little known to most, the Great Flood of 1951 helped set in motion the development of the Kansas City International site we know today.
TWA, the largest air carrier at the time in KC, considered moving after the flood – prompting the city to search for a new site.