‘It legitimizes Kansas City’: First visitors at KCI terminal call the project a success

Kansas Citians filled the new Kansas City International Airport terminal for the first time on Saturday, marveling at sculptures hanging from its high ceilings while dreaming of the day — soon — when its additional gates will be ready for takeoff.

Roughly 10,000 open house attendees toured the space ahead of its Feb. 28 opening date. The event was open to the public but required visitors to register ahead of time.

While some had minor critiques of curb access and vendor options — KCI spokespeople said they’re continuing to listen to feedback — most seemed to think the addition was a success.

After breaking ground in March 2019, the 1.1 million-square-foot facility made to replace the airport’s old three-terminal setup is the largest infrastructure project the city has ever completed. The new addition has stayed on budget at $1.5 billion, according to Joe McBride, a spokesman for KCI.

The terminal’s 40 gates have the ability to expand to up to 50 gates in the future. Its 6,200-space parking structure includes curb space for ride-share services like Uber and Lyft.

During Saturday’s open house, attendees explored the terminal via a self-guided tour, passing by plenty of selfie stations and local concessions along the way.

The new KCI experience

When patrons enter the check-in area, they are greeted by spacious halls and tall windows. Above, strings of colorful metal twirl and cascade from the ceiling.

Nick Cave’s “The Air Up There” is one of many large-scale art pieces that adorn the terminal.

A faux fountain, shooting glittering light instead of water, waits on the other side of security. Its architecture and interior design shoot for a hyper-modern feel, something resident Rebecca Lawrence noticed while at the open house.

“It feels very chic,” she said. “I wish I could just come and hang out. I’m excited for my next travel adventure.”

Food options range from seafood to barbecue, featuring local restaurants that serve everything in between, including familiar KC staples like Parisi Coffee and Boulevard Brewing Company.

While one of the visitors, June Walters, said she would’ve liked to have seen a few restaurants she recognized, she did appreciate the terminal’s accessibility and enjoyed its design.

“It seems to be laid out very well,” she said. “That impresses me.”

New terminal, new amenities

Justin Meyer, a spokesman with the Kansas City Aviation Department, said the terminal emphasizes inclusivity.

With plenty of ramps, adult changing rooms, lower countertops and a flight simulator to prepare hesitant fliers, Meyer said he hopes the terminal will accommodate each passenger, going beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

“We wanted to build a facility where every single person felt thought of and cared for intentionally by the project,” he said.

For those needing to take a break, quiet and sensory rooms are designed to calm travelers before their flights. Family and gender-neutral bathroom options are meant to welcome all.

Digital signs indicate the number of open stalls in the restrooms, which resident David McCormick said are much more spacious than in the old terminals. In fact, everything in the new terminal is bigger.

“You can actually walk around and stretch your legs,” he said.

For parents hoping to tire out their children before their flight, a playground shaped like a plane is situated in between gates, with a sign saying it’s intended for all ages and abilities.

A business center quiets outside noise and is meant to be an ideal meeting place.

The doors of the Lego store, Made in Kansas City Marketplace and the swanky Delta Sky Club — including a luxury bar with patio seating — remained closed Saturday, but visitors expressed their excitement for their opening.

‘The icing on top’

Annie Parsons, one of the open house’s attendees, travels often for work and said she’s excited to fly out of the terminal. While she enjoyed being able to pull up to the front of the old terminal so easily, she said the endless amenities and beauty make up for it.

“It makes me excited to welcome friends who are traveling here for a visit,” she said. “There’s so much great stuff going on in the city right now, and the airport is just the icing on top.”

Over the intercom, Mayor Quinton Lucas’ voice cheerfully welcomed visitors to the bustling, grandiose KCI.

Saturday’s open house has been years in the making, and for Meyer, it’s an emotional day.

“It’s been so delightful to see the faces of people who are seeing it for the first time — the amazement and the wonder, the appreciation of the art … We’re really pleased with what we’ve done so far,” he said.

This story was originally published February 18, 2023 at 5:36 PM.

Jenna Thompson

The Kansas City Star

Jenna Thompson covers retail news for The Kansas City Star. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, she previously reported for the Lincoln Journal Star and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she studied journalism and English.