Kansas City International Airport Sees Surge in Passenger Traffic, Records Mixed Results in Cargo Handling

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) experienced a notable upswing in passenger traffic in November, marking a 9.7% increase compared to November 2022, as reported by the Kansas City Aviation Department. The airport welcomed 956,721 travelers, reflecting the growing preference for air travel and the airport’s expanding appeal. In terms of passenger boardings, there was a 9.9% rise, totaling 478,758, indicating robust growth in outbound travel from Kansas City.

The cumulative figures for the year paint an even more positive picture. Year-to-date passenger boardings have reached an impressive 5,298,248, a significant 18.0% increase. This is mirrored in the total number of passengers, both arriving and departing, which stands at 10,622,708 for the year, up by 17.9%.

However, the news on the cargo front is mixed. In November, air freight at Kansas City International amounted to 20.5 million pounds, a decrease of 5.2% from the previous year. This downward trend is consistent throughout the year, with a 9.4% decline in air freight, totaling 211,098,229 million pounds. In contrast, air mail in November experienced a steep 87.9% drop from November 2022, totaling just 14,307 pounds. Despite this, the year-to-date figures for air mail show a remarkable 92.2% increase, with a total of 4.1 million pounds handled.

Operational aspects of the airport also showed promising signs. In November 2023, the airport had 153 peak-day scheduled aircraft departures and offered services to 46 nonstop markets. The daily market was bustling with an average of 41,219 arriving and departing scheduled seats. The all-cargo carriers reported a steady operation with 9 daily departures in November.

Notably, the Kansas City Airport System operates as an Enterprise Fund Department of the City of Kansas City, Missouri. It is noteworthy that this system is entirely self-sustaining, relying solely on airport user charges, without any dependency on general fund tax revenues for its administration, promotion, operation, or maintenance. This financial model underscores the airport’s efficient management and its critical role in supporting the regional economy.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, FlyKC.com