Southwest Says MCI Terminal Plan is Too Expensive

Over the last few months, the Show-Me Institute has stated time and again that the Kansas City Aviation Department’s single terminal plan is more expensive than it needs to be. We have stated that it would increase the costs and reduce Kansas City International Airport’s competitiveness. But now Southwest Airlines, Kansas City Airport’s most important carrier, is saying it. As the Associated Press reported on Thursday, Southwest Executive Vice President Ron Ricks indicated that:

. . . its [Southwest’s] costs would spike under a $1.2 billion proposal for replacing the current three-terminal configuration at Kansas City International Airport with a single terminal . . . the single-terminal proposal would triple its costs . . .

And that:

. . . the $1.2 billion proposal would be a disincentive for airlines to service Kansas City . . . the airline is confident it [Kansas City Airport] could come up with something for the community at a lower cost.

Southwest Airlines handles 40 percent of the commercial flights (almost 2 million passengers in 2012) out of Kansas City, and the Aviation Department cannot take its opinion lightly. We are with Southwest in hoping that planners for Kansas City International Airport can come up with a more cost-effective plan.