The new Kansas City International Airport single-terminal officially began operating on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. The $1.5 billion terminal broke ground in March 2019, and the project remained on time and on budget over the course of the four-year process.

The 1 million-square-foot terminal features:

• 39 gates with the ability to expand to 50 in the future
• 6,300-space parking garage that increases KCI's structured parking capacity by more than 50%
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification - KCI is one of 2 terminals in the U.S. with this designation
• The first airport to use wireless charging pads for its all-electric bus fleet

The new terminal is expected to bring a wide range of benefits to the region that includes:

• World-class first impression for out-of-town businesses considering the Kansas City region
• Valuable tool for recruiting talent
• A welcoming front door to Kansas City for millions of travelers, including those visiting for the 2023 NFL Draft, Big 12 Tournament, NCAA Basketball Tournament and 2026 FIFA World Cup
• Civic pride in the terminal's modernized spaces and concessions offerings - 80% of concessions are local Kansas City businesses

Panasonic Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc., the largest business-attraction deals of 2022 for the KC region, mentioned KCI’s new terminal as a factor that contributed to their decisions. This new asset was an essential value-add to the projects’ location drivers including the region’s skilled workforce, central location, renewable energy access and reliable infrastructure 

The Kansas City International Airport is a key factor for many manufacturing and distribution businesses deciding to locate operations in the region. The airport moves more cargo each year than any air center in a six-state region. In 2022, air cargo tonnages, which consist of both freight and mail transported by air, was up 5.7 percent at KCI Airport, with a total of 259.7 million pounds handled.

New industrial opportunities near the airport include KCI 29 Logistics Park, a 3,300-acre industrial site opening later this year, as well as a potential solar farm project at the airport.