Kansas City International Airport Arrivals (MCI)

Kansas City International Airport is an important gateway to the state of Missouri, located virtually in the centre of the United States of America. It is just to the northwest of Kansas City, and is along the Interstate 29. Over ten million people make use of the airport’s services every year, which rates it among the busiest of airports in the country, and has always been known as a modern and efficient establishment. Although one would expect its IATA code to be KCI, it is MCI, in relation to its previous name, the Mid-Continent International Airport. Passengers on Kansas City International Airport arrival flights have access to all the facilities they require, and will easily be able to reach the city by bus or taxi.

The airport of Kansas City is approximately fifteen miles from the downtown area, and is nearby to several parks and golf courses, such as the Tiffany Greens Golf Club and the Tiffany Springs Park. It is also just southwest of the Smithville Lake at Smithville, and just east of Leavenworth. To the east is the Roosterville Airport. Kansas City lies on the border between the two states of Missouri and Kansas, and their neighbouring states include Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado and Oklahoma. The best way for a passenger arriving at the airport to travel is in a rented car from one of the Kansas City International Airport car hire companies, which include Avis, Hertz, National and Budget. Many areas are within easy driving distance of the airport, besides Kansas City, such as St Joseph, Lawrence, Topeka, Columbia and Springfield. Major interstates connect all the main towns and cities of the region.

Travellers will also find it quite easy to drive in Kansas City. The roads are well organised and there are a few public parking areas available. The airport’s car rental companies are reached by free ‘Gray’ shuttle buses from the terminal buildings, as they are now located in a new consolidated facility. All the vehicles for hire are found here as well. The shuttles are available every few minutes.

The airport is served by a number of airline carriers, of which the most significant are Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Others include American Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Frontier Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada Express and Seaport Airlines. About forty-five destinations are connected by non-stop flights to Kansas City Airport, some of which are in Canada and Mexico. The busiest domestic flight routes arrive at the airport from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Denver and Las Vegas.

Arriving passengers will find that the airport has three large terminal buildings, all with their own facilities such as baggage claim halls, check-in counters and airline departure gates. The terminal of arrival will mainly depend on the airline company with which the passenger is flying and the origin of the flight. The terminal buildings are referred to as A, B and C, and are constructed in a unique ring-shape, with no central terminal area. They are equipped with several shops, restaurants and fast food stores, as well as free Wi-Fi connections, lost and found services, public telephones and banking facilities. Currency exchange options may also be available.

The Kansas City International Airport arrival areas are completely accessible to passengers in wheelchairs, and all upper areas of the buildings can be reached by elevators. Pavement ramps and accessible restrooms are installed as well, and if further assistance is required, the passenger’s airline company can be contacted prior to their departure flight to the airport. Service dogs are allowed in the terminal and there are relief areas available for them. Various forms of accessible transport can also be arranged. The taxi companies of the airport have several vehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts, and all public buses are low-floored and equipped with a ‘kneeling capacity’.

Arriving passengers can travel into the city by the public bus Route 129x. It runs to the Kansas City bus centre in the downtown area, from where many further connections are available. There are approximately twenty-five trips per day, between the hours of 06:00am and 06:00pm, and the ride will cost just $1.50. A private shuttle, although perhaps more convenient, will be more expensive, and a taxi will also be a little more pricy, however, a taxi will drop you off at the doorstep of where you need to be, while a bus will only follow a set route.

Currently, no trains serve the airport, and the city does not have its own light rail system like is found in many other American cities. Proposals were made to build such a system, but were refused, however, there is now a possible line that could be built from Vivion Road in the Northland to Meyer Boulevard in the south. Only time will tell if light rail will come to Kansas City, and if a line will ever be extended to the airport. The airport may also receive major improvement works in the future. One of the plans that have been discussed is to create a large central terminal building out of Terminal A, which will then house all the airport’s facilities. Terminal B will be demolished and Terminal C will be used as an office block.

Further details regarding Kansas City International Airport arrivals can be obtained from the airport’s general information telephone number of 816-243-5237.