KCRag Forum

rxlexi wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 3:17 pm The discussion around the correlation between airport size/number of flights and metro area growth/economic impact is interesting to me. Curious what KC would look like today if MCI had been properly developed initially as a mid-continent hub for TWA as planned. Obviously that ship has sailed (or plane has taken off, as it were), but I'm intrigued by those kinds of historical chicken and egg scenarios in places like Dallas, MSP, and especially Denver.

Was high-growth (whether economic, population, or both) the driver of the sizable hub airports, or did the airports play a key role in sparking/sustaining that growth? With regards to Denver - the city was a medium size energy boom/bust town with a heavy dose of skiing related tourism into the 90's, when they really shifted into high-gear with the downtown redevelopment, light-rail plans, and DIA. Now a bustling tech hub, very-high growth in the most desirable demographic cohorts, and airport infrastructure that has grown from "way out in the middle of nowhere" to the type of LRT connected mid-con hub that perhaps MCI was to have been.

Probably safe to say regional growth rates and larger economic trends are the true impact players here, as proven by rust belt cities that have sustained large hubs for periods of time, only to lose them as they continue to stagnate. But it's not hard to imagine how much of a benefit the quality of and number of flights from a large airport must be to a regional business community, whether considering moving to or growing within a region.

Hoping to spark a fundamental change in the way goods are moved around the world, Eastern Airlines placed a huge bet on turning passenger planes into cargo haulers, choosing Kansas City as the location to get it done.

The effort could result in 140 new jobs at a facility near Kansas City International Airport.

Harfst said he chose Kansas City as the location because the Jet Midwest hangar is a perfect facility for what Eastern is trying to accomplish. He also was attracted to the amount of skilled aviation talent in the area. The central location didn’t really play a role because the company has no intent right now to fly commercially out of Kansas City, he said.

earthling wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 3:44 pm Eastern Airlines taking up Jet Midwest hangar, unfortunately no commercial flights for KCI as focus is on cargo...

Hoping to spark a fundamental change in the way goods are moved around the world, Eastern Airlines placed a huge bet on turning passenger planes into cargo haulers, choosing Kansas City as the location to get it done.

The effort could result in 140 new jobs at a facility near Kansas City International Airport.

Harfst said he chose Kansas City as the location because the Jet Midwest hangar is a perfect facility for what Eastern is trying to accomplish. He also was attracted to the amount of skilled aviation talent in the area. The central location didn’t really play a role because the company has no intent right now to fly commercially out of Kansas City, he said.

GRID wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 2:48 pm That's the main reason I still dislike the place, even if the economic bistate war is over. (which is shouldn't be, it's only over because KS saw they were going to start losing that war). I personally would have liked to see KCMO win some companies back first.

beautyfromashes wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 5:08 pm

GRID wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 2:48 pm That's the main reason I still dislike the place, even if the economic bistate war is over. (which is shouldn't be, it's only over because KS saw they were going to start losing that war). I personally would have liked to see KCMO win some companies back first.

^this.

earthling wrote: ↑Sat Nov 27, 2021 8:11 am ^Was kidding about JoCo comments. Note &&. Has meant ironic/sarcasm here for years. And there's no denial of the impact of JoCo on KCMO but not as malevolent as you often imply. It's far more complicated than simplistic fingerpointing. For starters, when Jeff City is more focused on STL and Topeka on KS side of metro, things will shift that way, would be more surprising if not.

Back to airport.. New airport will help but airlines were focusing on more flights to key hubs and fewer nonstop for outliers before COVID. New KCI might draw a few more flights and grab some SWA from STL but KC may need to control its own destiny in long run and get a homegrown airline back like Vangard when the timing is right.

dukuboy1 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 6:11 pm

earthling wrote: ↑Sat Nov 27, 2021 8:11 am ^Was kidding about JoCo comments. Note &&. Has meant ironic/sarcasm here for years. And there's no denial of the impact of JoCo on KCMO but not as malevolent as you often imply. It's far more complicated than simplistic fingerpointing. For starters, when Jeff City is more focused on STL and Topeka on KS side of metro, things will shift that way, would be more surprising if not.

Back to airport.. New airport will help but airlines were focusing on more flights to key hubs and fewer nonstop for outliers before COVID. New KCI might draw a few more flights and grab some SWA from STL but KC may need to control its own destiny in long run and get a homegrown airline back like Vangard when the timing is right.

Before Love Field was opened up as SWA main hub/home airport KC really benefitted as a mini-hub along with Midway here in the Midwest. Change to STL I think just had to do with capacity such as passenger waiting areas, gates, etc. Not 100% sure. However once new airport comes online it should bring back some SWA flight and maybe even allow for existing companies to come into the market. I'm excited for it and what it will mean for the future. With KC being right in the middle of the country lends it self well for transportation & telecommunications.

earthling wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 3:25 pm ^Yeah, Denver eventually capitalized on the mountain life and invested hugely in new airport at just the right time. If KC did things right as Union Station rail passenger traffic declined and had Howard Hughes attention, KC could've maintained a high profile with a major air hub that may have made it difficult for DEN/MSP/STL to build up as much air traffic, possibly. Can't say for sure but it was a big missed opportunity for KC.

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 4:21 pm What hub is in Vegas?

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 4:21 pm What hub is in Vegas?

Highlander wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 4:28 pm

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 4:21 pm What hub is in Vegas?

SW is not an official hub at Vegas but they have a lot of connecting flights going through Vegas.

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Mon Dec 06, 2021 11:36 pm I think the long-term plan was still 5o move economy closer by the rental car place and maybe connected by a peoplemover.

They did just repave C economy lot and A has been used for C 0arking. I assume they will just use C for economy after opening given that as there will be so much more garage parking