KCI replaces its Wi-Fi system and upgrades its website
Kansas City International Airport has a new Wi-Fi system and a redesigned website, which includes new features such as interactive maps and a parking fee estimator.
The new Wi-Fi system, replaced a month ago, includes 50 Cisco wireless access points with the capacity to serve more than 2,000 electronic devices simultaneously at quicker speeds, the Kansas City Aviation Department said. The department said it decided to replace the original network after an increasing number of passengers’ devices connected to the system slowed Wi-Fi performance.
“The old system had an aging infrastucture,” said Joe McBride, the airport’s marketing manager. “People were experiencing slow service or no service at times because it couldn’t keep up with the volume of devices.”
About 300 to 500 visitors connect to the airport’s Wi-Fi each hour, McBride said, which is well within the new network’s capacity.
The Aviation Department covered the $300,000 cost of the system through airport revenue gained from services such as concessions and parking.
Although the airport’s Internet address will remain the same at flykci.com, the website’s navigation, layout and content management systems have all been rebuilt and replaced.
Website visitors will find a homepage with a drop-down flight search and quick links to terminal maps, parking, driving directions and car rentals, among other options. The new website is also responsive to several types of electronic devices.
The website has been redesigned in the past, but Tuesday’s relaunch includes the first new server since the website’s conception 15 years ago. This server can handle increased traffic, which becomes especially conjested during bad weather.
The Aviation Department collaborated with local marketing company DEG and the Kuhn & Wittenborn advertising agency for the website’s relaunch.
“We want to make sure that the airport visitor experience is as fast and convenient as possible,” McBride said.
This story was originally published June 16, 2015 at 11:32 AM with the headline "KCI replaces its Wi-Fi system and upgrades its website."