The Kansas City Aviation Department is asking various business, civic and minority organizations and leaders to participate in public discussions to inform local community businesses of various ways that they can actively participate in the concessions program for the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport, dubbed Build KCI.
Two of these events will be held in Platte County at the end of the month. On Tuesday, July 30, a discussion will be held at 6 p.m. At the Line Creek Community Center, 5940 Waukomis Drive, Kansas City; and at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 31 at the KCPD North Patrol, 11000 NW Prairie View Road, Kansas City.
The overall vision for the Build KCI concessions program is to have a program that is customer-centric, provides a sense of place, engages useful technology and integrates the spirit of Kansas City.
Earlier in the planning process, the aviation department and partners sought input for potential upgrades at KCI Airport from residents through a series of listening sessions hosted by business, neighborhood and community groups throughout the metro. The upcoming sessions reflect this spirit of communication and collaboration by discussing the concessions program and its potential opportunities with the business community.
“We would like to share our vision for the Build KCI concessions program with area businesses and discuss the opportunities for them to be involved in this monumental project,” said Pat Klein, KCMO aviation director. “The airport is the front door to the community and the new terminal needs to provide that sense of place for visitors and locals alike. The right concessions program is key to achieving this.”
The aviation department is striving to achieve opportunities for local participation through a variety of means; no limits on how local operators participate; competition among locations; reasonable prices; regionally inspired; offer the highest levels of customer service; make use of cutting-edge, useful technology; and be truly unique.
At just over one million square feet, the new terminal is the largest single infrastructure project in the city’s history. It will have a lasting economic impact on the region. The facility will open with 39 gates and the ability to expand up to 50 gates in the future. The new terminal will also include a 6,300 space parking structure, which will be constructed adjacent to the terminal building, a central utility plant and landside and airside improvements.
When complete, the new facility will replace the airport’s aging terminals, which opened in 1972. The new terminal will be built in the footprint of Terminal A, which is currently undergoing demolition. The new terminal is expected to open in early 2023.
For more details on the sessions, visit FlyKCI.com/concessions. New terminal project information is at BuildKCI.com.