Jazmin Li
Kansas City International Airport (KCI) opened for commercial service on November 11, 1972, replacing the existing Mid-Continent Airport at the same location. The Great Flood of 1951 had destroyed the facilities of Kansas City's two main airlines, Mid-Continent Airlines and TWA, at Fairfax Municipal Airport. Kansas City began planning a new airport 20 miles north of the city, and construction of two runways and a control tower began in 1954. The airport was designed by the prominent Kansas City architectural firm Kivett and Myers, with engineering work by Burns and McDonnell, in the Brutalist style.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Former Names | Mid-Continent Airport, Kansas City Downtown Airport, Municipal Airport |
| Year of Construction | 1954-1956 (runways and control tower), 1972 (terminals) |
| Year of Opening | 1957 (runways and control tower), 1972 (commercial service) |
| Location | Platte County, 20 miles north of Kansas City |
| Designed by | Kivett & Myers, Bob Berkebile |
| Engineered by | Burns & McDonnell |
| Architectural Style | Brutalist |
| Terminals | 1 |
| Gates | 40 |
| Concourses | 2 |
| Concourse A Gates | 13 (A1–A20) |
| Concourse B Gates | 27 (B40–B69) |
| Former Hubs | Braniff, Eastern, Midwest, Trans World, Vanguard |
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What You'll Learn
- The Great Flood of 1951 destroyed two of Kansas City's airports
- MCI's Brutalist architecture was designed by Kivett & Myers
- MCI's Drive-to-your-gate concept was selected from eight design concepts
- MCI opened for commercial service on November 11, 1972
- MCI's predecessor, Mid-Continent Airport, was a hub for Braniff Airlines
The Great Flood of 1951 destroyed two of Kansas City's airports
In the summer of 1951, heavy rainfall in the Kansas River basin caused extensive flooding in the Kansas City area. This event, known as the Great Flood of 1951, was the most devastating of all modern floods for Kansas City. The floodwaters reached unprecedented levels, destroying the city's stockyards and causing widespread damage to homes, railroads, and other infrastructure. The flood also wreaked havoc on Kansas City's aviation industry, destroying the facilities of two of the city's major airlines, Mid-Continent Airlines and Trans World Airlines (TWA), at Fairfax Municipal Airport.
The impact of the flood on the city's airports was significant. Fairfax Municipal Airport, located across the Missouri River from the main Kansas City Municipal Airport, bore the brunt of the flood's fury. The TWA overhaul base at Fairfax Airport was completely destroyed, prompting the city to relocate TWA to a new airport in Platte County, Missouri, which later became known as Kansas City International Airport (MCI). The new airport, designed by the renowned firm Kivett & Myers, opened in 1972 and boasted a unique "Drive-to-your-gate" concept.
Kansas City International Airport (MCI) has undergone several transformations since its opening. Initially designed with a decentralized layout and an open plan, the airport faced challenges in implementing post-9/11 security measures, as passenger seating areas had to be walled off from the main concourses. Despite these difficulties, MCI has expanded over the years, more than doubling its acreage, and establishing itself as a significant commercial/public airport in the United States.
The Great Flood of 1951 not only reshaped Kansas City's aviation landscape but also led to the development of new flood control measures. In response to the devastation caused by the flood, numerous dams, reservoirs, and levees were constructed to manage the flow of the Kansas River and prevent future flooding. The impact of the Great Flood of 1951 on Kansas City's airports and the subsequent recovery efforts highlight the city's resilience and adaptability in the face of natural disasters.
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MCI's Brutalist architecture was designed by Kivett & Myers
Kansas City International Airport (MCI) opened in 1972, and its terminals and control tower were designed by the architectural firm Kivett & Myers. The firm was the leading architectural design firm in Kansas City during its glory years from 1945 to 1975, winning 30 of the 73 design awards given by the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Kivett & Myers encouraged bold, modern buildings designed by quality architects, and the firm operated as a training ground, providing instruction to young architects.
The passenger terminals at MCI are a notable example of Brutalist architecture, a style that was widely used for public buildings in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. Brutalist buildings are characterised by a 'blocky' appearance, a rigid geometric style, and the large-scale use of poured concrete. The honeycomb ceiling of the passenger terminals at MCI is a distinctive feature of this style, showcasing rough, unfinished surfaces and unusual shapes. The structure of the terminals features V-shaped columns, 40 ft. high, on the aircraft side, and Y-shaped columns, 26 ft. high, on the landside, with concrete roof bents connecting the columns in a diagonal pattern.
The design of the airport was driven by TWA, which envisioned the facility as its hub, with direct flights from America's heartland to destinations worldwide. The original design of the terminals at MCI featured a decentralised layout, with passengers entering from the curbside to the middle level, where they would find ticketing and other passenger services. A mezzanine above contained restaurants, cocktail lounges, and VIP rooms, while the apron level below provided access for airline and airport employees to aircraft parking positions and service facilities.
However, shortly after construction was completed, changes had to be made due to new FAA requirements for passenger and baggage screening. Glass walls were added to separate the ticketing and boarding areas, and security checkpoints were created for each gate, compromising the original convenience of the design. After the events of 9/11, additional security measures further impacted the functionality and efficiency of the airport, and TWA eventually moved its hub to St. Louis.
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MCI's Drive-to-your-gate concept was selected from eight design concepts
In the late 1960s, Kansas City International Airport (MCI) was deemed "unsafe for large jet aircraft". This prompted the city to commission two firms, Kivett & Myers (architects) and Burns & McDonnell (engineers), to develop design concepts for a new airport. Eight design concepts were considered, and the "Drive-to-your-gate" concept was ultimately chosen.
The "Drive-to-your-gate" concept was a notable feature of MCI's original design. This concept allowed passengers to drive right up to their gate, a design that was also implemented at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) around the same time. The MCI airport, which opened in 1972, was considered world-class and featured a unique structure with V-shaped columns on the aircraft side and Y-shaped columns on the landside. The original design also included three levels: a middle level for passenger services such as ticketing, an upper mezzanine for restaurants and VIP rooms, and a lower apron level for airline and airport employees to access aircraft and utility areas.
However, the "Drive-to-your-gate" concept presented challenges when new security requirements were imposed. The decentralised layout and open plan of the terminals made it difficult and expensive to implement security checkpoints and separate ticketing and boarding areas. As a result, the convenience of the original design was compromised, and the airport had to undergo modifications to meet the new security standards.
Despite these challenges, the MCI airport has expanded significantly since its opening, more than doubling its acreage. The airport has also undergone a recent transformation, with a new terminal opening in 2023, aiming to provide improved functionality and convenience for travellers.
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MCI opened for commercial service on November 11, 1972
On November 11, 1972, Kansas City International Airport (KCI) officially opened for commercial service. The airport, designed in the Brutalist style, replaced the existing Mid-Continent Airport at the same location. The Great Flood of 1951 had destroyed the facilities of Kansas City's two airlines, Mid-Continent Airlines and TWA, at Fairfax Municipal Airport. The flood also affected operations at the downtown Municipal Airport, leading to the planning of a new airport 20 miles north of the city.
The design of KCI was a collaboration between the architectural firm Kivett and Myers and the engineering firm Burns and McDonnell. The airport featured three terminals (A, B, and C) with a unique "`Drive-to-your-gate`" configuration, allowing passengers to park near their gate. Each building had three levels: the middle level for ticketing and other passenger services, an upper mezzanine with restaurants and VIP rooms, and a lower apron level for airline and airport employees. The exterior and interior of each terminal featured unusual structural components, including V-shaped and Y-shaped columns, and exposed concrete with a "`blocky`" appearance, characteristic of Brutalist architecture.
KCI was considered a world-class airport when it opened, with TWA envisioning it as its hub for whisking passengers from America's heartland to global destinations. However, the airport faced challenges, including labor strife and interruptions that increased its cost to $250 million. Shortly after opening, security checkpoints and changing aviation security regulations impacted the functionality of the airport's design, compromising the convenience originally offered by the decentralized layout and open plan.
KCI has since expanded, more than doubling its acreage since 1972. The airport has also been unable to change its original FAA location identifier of MCI, which stands for Mid-Continent, due to its appearance on navigational charts and the risk of confusion with other airport codes. Today, KCI continues to serve Kansas City, with a new terminal opening in 2023 to replace the original one from the early 1970s.
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MCI's predecessor, Mid-Continent Airport, was a hub for Braniff Airlines
Kansas City International Airport (IATA: MCI, ICAO: KMCI, FAA LID: MCI), or MCI Airport, was preceded by Kansas City Municipal Airport (MKC). The predecessor to MCI, Mid-Continent Airport, was a hub for Braniff Airlines, which merged with Mid-Continent Airlines in 1952.
MCI Airport opened in 1972, replacing the Kansas City Municipal Airport, which was located across the Missouri River. The new airport was built on property owned by the city, in an unincorporated area of Platte County, and was designed by the architectural firm Kivett & Myers. The airport has been expanded and renovated over the years, with a new complex completed in 2023.
Mid-Continent Airlines, also known as MCA, was founded as a flight school in 1928 by Arthur Hanford, Jr., a dairy operator. The company expanded and modernized its fleet in 1936, adding ten Lockheed Electra I aircraft. In 1938, the company changed its name to Mid-Continent Airlines, Inc. and began service to Tulsa and other cities in the oil field. In 1951, the Great Flood destroyed the facilities of both Mid-Continent Airlines and TWA at Fairfax Municipal Airport, leading to the construction of Kansas City Industrial Airport, which would eventually become MCI.
The merger of Mid-Continent Airlines with Braniff Airways in 1952 created a solid north-south flow, feeding Braniff's Latin American route system. The merger gave Braniff a stronger presence in the region, with Mid-Continent Airlines serving as the predominant carrier west of a Kansas City to Chicago line. Braniff, on the other hand, was more predominant east of this line.
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Frequently asked questions
Before MCI airport was built, the land was flat farmland.
The current terminal at MCI airport replaced the existing Mid-Continent Airport at the same location.
Before Mid-Continent Airport, the location was just flat farmland.
MCI airport was built to replace Kansas City's two main airports, Fairfax Airport and Municipal Airport, which were both shut down after being damaged by the Great Flood of 1951.
