Data KC: KCI’s growth in carriers, flights adds to steady gains

Kansas City travelers will have to wait at least a few more months to know whether — and when — they get a new airport. But right now one thing is sure: They got more flight choices last year, and more are on the way this year.

Traffic numbers also show that, although the airport hasn’t rebounded to its pre-recession peak, 2015 was the third straight year of increasing business. It’s an open question when, or if, Kansas City International will match the 11.9 million passenger count it logged in 2000 or its pre-recession peak of nearly 11.3 million in 2007.

But about 10.5 million passengers passed through last year — final December numbers aren’t in yet — up from 10.17 million in 2014, 9.8 million in 2013, and 9.75 million in 2012.

The Kansas City Aviation Department also recently noted:

▪ Flights were added in 2015 to and from Miami, New York LaGuardia, Los Angeles International, Orange County, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Orlando and Fort Myers-Punta Gorda, Fla.

▪ Flights to be added later this year include Cancun, more to LaGuardia, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Chicago-O’Hare.

▪ November was the 19th straight month of year-over-year traffic gains at KCI.

▪ Allegiant started KCI service in November, the airport’s third new airline in four years.

▪ Southwest, the leading carrier at KCI, has added nine nonstop routes since 2012.

▪ Average seats per departure are increasing as airlines use larger aircraft to KCI.

This story was originally published January 16, 2016 at 2:00 AM with the headline "Data KC: KCI’s growth in carriers, flights adds to steady gains."