Kansas City Aviation Department
DOWNTOWN
AIRPORT
Downtown Airport, with the Aviation Department, is the
primary reliever for Kansas City International Airport. It is the home base for
more than 295 private general aviation aircraft, and provides these aircraft
with a convenient stopping location. These aircraft range from vintage planes
and helicopters to sleek corporate jets. General aviation accounts for the
majority of the airport's total aircraft operations.
Downtown Airport
is also traditionally the host site of several special events. One of the
largest displays of World War II was held in May of 1995, an event that
commemorated the 50th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. The Federal Aviation
Administration also uses the Downtown Airport as a showcase for its annual,
widely attended event, the Aviation Expo.
The location of
Downtown Airport adjacent to the city's center makes it ideal for corporate
aviation. Securing a location near the geographic center of the U.S. also makes
Downtown Airport a perfect spot for refueling and service.
KCI
Kansas
City International Airport is the main airport for commercial flights into the
Kansas City area. KCI's refreshing appeal due to lack of congestion coupled with
easy accessibility has made it one of the most convenient airports in the
country. The new millennium will bring many changes to the airport, as the
Terminal Improvement Project continues, which will upgrade the facility's
mechanical and electrical systems as well as give the airport a more modern,
sleek look.
The airport
occupies a total of 10,000 acres, making it one of the largest airports in the
nation in available acreage. There are 17,300 covered and uncovered parking
spaces available, and three major runways that can accommodate up to 139
aircraft operations per hour. Accessibility from two major highways can easily
accommodate 2,700 vehicles per hour.
KCI became the
metropolitan area's official air carrier airport on Nov. 11, 1972, when all
scheduled airline operations were transferred from Municipal Airport.