Kansas City International Airport Sees Significant Passenger Growth in September

Kansas City International Airport (KCI) witnessed an impressive surge in passenger traffic this September, according to the Kansas City Aviation Department. The data revealed a 13.1% increase in passenger arrivals and departures compared to September 2022, with a total of 991,859 individuals passing through the airport’s gates. The figures for passenger boardings also climbed by 13.0%, with 494,995 people boarding flights. Cumulatively, from the start of the year, passenger boardings have risen by 19.3%, with a total of 4,289,961 individuals, and the total passenger count has reached 8,604,946, marking a 19.1% increase year-to-date.

Mayor Quinton Lucas expressed his pride in the positive reception of the newly renovated KCI over the past half-year and the successive boarding record achievements. He emphasized the importance of a bustling airport for local job creation and long-term economic growth. Lucas pledged the city’s commitment to collaborate with airline companies to further amplify both domestic and international services from Kansas City.

Justin Meyer, the Interim Aviation Director, shared the elation, celebrating the new record set in September. Meyer expressed gratitude towards airline partners for introducing new flight routes and destinations. He noted the airport facilitated more than 300 daily flights to and from Kansas City the past month.

However, the airport’s cargo transport experienced a decline. Air cargo, comprising freight and mail, dipped by 11.8% in September, with 19.2 million pounds processed. The cumulative figure for the year stands at 175.1 million pounds, a 9.1% decrease. Specifically, air freight in September fell by 11.3% year-over-year, processing 20.2 million pounds, while the cumulative total for the year decreased by 10.3%, handling 171.1 million pounds. A significant decline of 90.0% was observed in air mail in September compared to the previous year, with only 12,857 pounds processed. However, in a positive turnaround, the total air mail processed this year surged by 110.9% compared to 2022, amounting to 4.1 million pounds.

September 2023 recorded 154 peak-day scheduled aircraft departures, offering direct flights to 48 destinations. On average, there were 41,219 scheduled seats available daily for arriving and departing passengers. Cargo-focused carriers logged 9 daily departures for the month.

Importantly, the Kansas City Airport System operates as an Enterprise Fund Department under the City of Kansas City, Mo. The system’s operation is solely funded by charges imposed on airport users, ensuring that general tax revenues are not utilized for its administration, promotion, or upkeep.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, kcmo.gov