New airport terminal brings opportunities for new flights

to talk about flights. KCI expects to be able to offer more options for people once this new terminal opens because obviously the travel is what this really is all about. This was a big talking point years ago when we covered this about why do we need a new airport? So let's talk about that. Caroline Hogan talked to KCI about how soon that could happen. More flights. Caroline, walk us through what to expect here. Right.

So talking with KCI yesterday, they said we have the tools now, especially with the new terminal. All we need now is the demand to host these international flights and the demand seems to be there, but we're hoping to see just a little bit more. But like I said, it's those tools that we have now at the new terminal that shows that we are ready to host those international flights actually caught a father and son yesterday who were on their way home from London. They had quite the hard time between cancellations and delays. They got back with no luggage. Listen up. As a young first time international traveler, he asked, why can't we fly directly home? I said, well, that's just not the way it works.

We've got to go other hubs and then find our way back to Kansas City. But man, to have that international international port would be awesome. I mean, I think we all think that right now coincidentally, British Airways is one of the transatlantic carriers that KCI pitched back in 2022. Just a mile with KCI said now it's up to the community and local companies to prove that there is demand for these flights. We have the tools as I mentioned to bring them in, especially because we have a lot of passengers coming from Omaha, Iowa, central Kansas and central and southern Missouri. We have new baggage systems, new arrivals, five new international gates. Now we have a lot of people coming through and on top of that, some new flights being added to new non stops, especially through Southwest that are pre pandemic coming back from that Albuquerque in Deanapolis, Milwaukee.

So we're seeing some movement. Let's see some more though. Yeah, it's been so interesting just looking back over the last several years, the baggage system at the current terminals wouldn't handle the passenger capacity from bigger planes. So just one of the things that are different. Alright, Carolyn Hogan live at KCI.

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