New KCI terminal should open in late February (Weaubleau: buying, live)

[Weaubleau]

It is so nice that KC has a real airport that is similar to airports around the US, rather than a failed concept airport from 50 years ago, that makes it easier for local people to save a couple steps and maybe get to the airport 30 minutes later, but fails at every other aspect of being an airport. The old airport was so offputting to people traveling to KC, they they avoided traveling here. Additionally, many flights that would logically layover in KC, such as say Oklahoma City to Des Moines, ended up laying over in Chicago or Dallas, flying hours out of their way, rather than subjecting their passengers and crew to layover in the nightmare of the old KCI.

[rrampage]

Originally Posted by Weaubleau

It is so nice that KC has a real airport that is similar to airports around the US, rather than a failed concept airport from 50 years ago, that makes it easier for local people to save a couple steps and maybe get to the airport 30 minutes later, but fails at every other aspect of being an airport. The old airport was so offputting to people traveling to KC, they they avoided traveling here. Additionally, many flights that would logically layover in KC, such as say Oklahoma City to Des Moines, ended up laying over in Chicago or Dallas, flying hours out of their way, rather than subjecting their passengers and crew to layover in the nightmare of the old KCI.

Yes, it seemed there were high hopes for that triple radial design there. Nothing really ever came to fruition. Certainly, the timing wasn't the best. The hub and spoke model for the airlines became quite the deal. Southwest did get some use out of it, but it was too little too late.

[DabOnEm]

Originally Posted by rrampage

Yes, it seemed there were high hopes for that triple radial design there. Nothing really ever came to fruition. Certainly, the timing wasn't the best. The hub and spoke model for the airlines became quite the deal. Southwest did get some use out of it, but it was too little too late.

DFW has the same design but they were smarter about connecting the terminals and giving people options past security. I guess at the time, when KC ironically held more status in the US, that city leaders didn't envision are more grand model of the "drive to your gate" design TWA wanted, and instead went with the small town version of it vs the big city version of it that DFW Airport had.

I'll be flying through KCMO in about a month and cant wait to check it out.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

DFW has the same design but they were smarter about connecting the terminals and giving people options past security. I guess at the time, when KC ironically held more status in the US, that city leaders didn't envision are more grand model of the "drive to your gate" design TWA wanted, and instead went with the small town version of it vs the big city version of it that DFW Airport had.

I'll be flying through KCMO in about a month and cant wait to check it out.

The city leaders made a number of mistakes regarding the airport in the past, and it took long enough to finally get the new terminal open. It is a substantial improvement compared to the bus station terminal of before.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by rrampage

Yes, it seemed there were high hopes for that triple radial design there. Nothing really ever came to fruition. Certainly, the timing wasn't the best. The hub and spoke model for the airlines became quite the deal. Southwest did get some use out of it, but it was too little too late.

As DabOnEm alluded, two design flaws that I'm sure no one in KC thought of at the time as flaws doomed the airport.

One was too shallow concourses. DFW's horseshoes are deeper.

The other was keeping arriving and departing traffic on the same level, as had been the case at old Municipal Airport. Dallas, like most airports had done by then, separated the two traffic streams.

Since the same architectural firm designed both airports, it appears that it learned from its mistakes in KC.

[rrampage]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

As DabOnEm alluded, two design flaws that I'm sure no one in KC thought of at the time as flaws doomed the airport.

One was too shallow concourses. DFW's horseshoes are deeper.

The other was keeping arriving and departing traffic on the same level, as had been the case at old Municipal Airport. Dallas, like most airports had done by then, separated the two traffic streams.

Since the same architectural firm designed both airports, it appears that it learned from its mistakes in KC.

Yes, definitely what you've said here.

[Weaubleau]

Since the same architectural firm designed both airports, it appears that it learned from its mistakes in KC

Unfortunately, KC had to live with these mistakes, and in a weird case of Stockholm Syndrome, many KC residents came to embrace these mistakes as actual good features that they were loath to give up when presented with a much superior option.

I equate this to the people who don't want to give up tailgating prior to the Royals game. The only reason anyone would tailgate before a baseball game is due to the lack of options around the stadium for entertainment. Who wants to set up a tailgate for 30 minutes prior to a weeknight game in a broiling hot blacktop parking lot? Then to think that is superior to grabbing a beer at an air conditioned bar within walking distance to the game!

[KC_Retiree]

Originally Posted by Weaubleau

Unfortunately, KC had to live with these mistakes, and in a weird case of Stockholm Syndrome, many KC residents came to embrace these mistakes as actual good features that they were loath to give up when presented with a much superior option.

I equate this to the people who don't want to give up tailgating prior to the Royals game. The only reason anyone would tailgate before a baseball game is due to the lack of options around the stadium for entertainment. Who wants to set up a tailgate for 30 minutes prior to a weeknight game in a broiling hot blacktop parking lot? Then to think that is superior to grabbing a beer at an air conditioned bar within walking distance to the game!

This is true to some extent. KCI did get some high praise early on which instilled some pride in the community but the design really hurt Kansas City over the long haul. The first dagger came pretty quickly when we lost the TWA hub due to the design. By the 1990's, however, it was getting pretty obvious that KCI was hopelessly flawed and we should have cut bait and run at that point in time but unwisely kept investing the horseshoe design. I am concerned we will do the same with Royal's stadium. What's wonderful in the 1970's doesn't necessarily work in the 2020's.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by KC_Retiree

This is true to some extent. KCI did get some high praise early on which instilled some pride in the community but the design really hurt Kansas City over the long haul. The first dagger came pretty quickly when we lost the TWA hub due to the design. By the 1990's, however, it was getting pretty obvious that KCI was hopelessly flawed and we should have cut bait and run at that point in time but unwisely kept investing the horseshoe design. I am concerned we will do the same with Royal's stadium. What's wonderful in the 1970's doesn't necessarily work in the 2020's.

It was the same backward mentality of continual investing in Kemper Arena, to use another example.

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

I can't seem to find any information on how many gates the three terminals of the old KCI had, but the number 60 comes to mind. That's 20 more than the new terminal has and 10 more than it will have if it's expanded to its maximum capacity. Since Terminal A (which was demolished to build the new facility) was mothballed already the last time I flew into KC, I'd say that the new airport should be able to handle future passenger traffic growth for a while.

All 3 of the old terminals (A, B, C) had 30 gates each, Terminal A (gates 1-30), Terminal B (gates 31-60) and Terminal C (gates 61-90).