Live music premiered at Kansas City International Airport on Friday as airport leaders hope to improve the overall experience for travelers at the facility.
An American Jazz Museum stage will now be set up inside Terminal B near the Southwest Airlines baggage claim area and feature live music three times a week.
Aside from live jazz, Terminals B & C now feature electrical outlets at seats around the concourse, larger bathrooms, rooms for nursing mothers, shelters for service animals, and bigger departure and baggage claim areas.
On Friday, travelers welcomed the changes.
"I like it," explained Sharon Reynolds shortly arriving at KCI. "I like the sound of jazz and I like listening to jazz. It belongs here."
Others, like American Jazz Museum Executive Director Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner, said having live jazz music at the airport could have an impact outside of flying.
"I think it is important in terms of branding the city and creating a unique product that only Kansas City can offer," she explained. "When you're sitting down and waiting, you can actually enjoy some jazz and we hope to attract people to 18th & Vine."
The changes at KCI come as the facility continues to face many questions about its future.
The airport is now more than 40 years old, and talks of possibly building a new terminal continue to unfold in private circles.
Throughout the years, many travelers have grown to love KCI for its convenience.
Fliers can often move through lines quickly, and the airport's gates sit a short distance from the entrances to the terminals.
However, complaints have also been made regarding restaurant and store options at the airport.
For some travelers at the airport on Friday, the new changes did little to address the issues.
"There's really nothing you can do except go to your gate and sit," explained St. Louis resident Karen Tamanaha. "I got here at 2:30 on Wednesday afternoon and the CNBC store was closed, which kind of surprised me at that time of day."
Kathi Anderson, who waited at the airport for a loved one on Friday, said the airport's design could make it tough to enjoy the new live music.
"You have to make sure you get through your security again," she explained. "That would be a pain to come out and go see it."
With the airport continuing to address its lack of space and options, KCI Manager of Marketing Joe McBride hoped the new changes could lead to a better time at the facility.
"We're fully aware that the terminals are narrow and are aging," he explained. "We're trying to fix what we can in short term."
As KCI faces an uncertain future, he said making the new changes could help improve the perception of Kansas City.
"We're fully aware that the airport is the front door to the community, and we want to try and improve the first impression," he explained.
The project making the improvements to the terminals will conclude in June of next year.
KCI leaders also plan to hold "listening sessions" at community meetings this spring to help gather ideas for potential upgrades at the airport.
