Kansas City International Airport

Kansas City International Airport (KCI) was built by the City of Kansas City, Missouri and opened in 1972. Its low congestion and small number of flight delays have long established it as one of the most appealing commercial airports in the world.

The KCI complex spans more than 10,000 acres, and its three runways can accommodate up to 139 aircraft operations per hour. Uncongested air and ground space, short taxi time, and a low weather-related closure/cancellation rate are why KCI consistently ranks among the lowest in delays of all U.S. airports. Three runways, two of them parallel with 6,575 feet of separation, Category III instrument Landing System and other features help keep operations smooth in even the worst of weather. New surfaces on the runways, taxiways and terminal aprons, along with ongoing infrastructure improvements, enhance the airport’s efficiency and convenience to air carriers.

KCI was originally called Mid-Continent International Airport, or MCI, and the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) adopted MCI as the airport’s designator code. Also, U.S. airports cannot use codes beginning with N, K or W as the first letter of the prefix. N is the prefix reserved for aircraft, and K and W are reserved for radio call sign prefixes. Many locals and others refer to the airport as the abbreviation, KCI. For many years, KCI served as the landing strip for the TWA overhaul base and as an alternate airport for the old Kansas City Municipal Airport. When Municipal was deemed too small and unable to grow, terminals and additional runways were built at what is now KCI. Municipal was renamed Kansas City Downtown Airport, and later Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport.