KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City’s new airport design needs to be larger than officials first thought.
In an update to the City Council Thursday, airline representatives and city aviation department officials say the recent increase in passenger growth at Kansas City International Airport means that the new terminal needs to open with at least 39 gates.
Initial plans called for 35 gates.
In February, the council approved a memorandum of understanding with Edgemoor to build the new terminal that voters authorized in a November 2017 election.
During Thursday’s presentation, aviation officials said that the airport’s four new airlines and nearly 4 percent annual passenger growth since 2013 necessitated the changes.
Officials also said they’re seeing an increase in commitment from airlines to Kansas City.
A series of illustrations offered options as to how Edgemoor might incorporate the increased number of gates.
Officials even outlined changes that could accommodate a terminal with 42 and 50 gates in the future.
The council also received an updated schedule for the new terminal:
- By early April, the city is looking for a basis of design submission
- By mid-May, the city is looking for a design budget/schedule
- By late June, the aviation department will review/approve a conceptual design, budget and schedule
- By early August, the city hopes to have 50 percent of the schematic design complete
- By late September, the city hopes to have the schematic design fully complete
- Subcontractor bidding would start in October
- A final price tag for the terminal would be announced by late October or early November.
