"New Airport for Wichita"

Friday, May 7, 2004

New Airport for Wichita 
By Jennifer Bocchieri
KAKE-TV Ch 10 ABC, Wichita (KS)


One point five million people pulled up to fly out of Mid-Continent airport
last year. There just enough space for all these new security machines, now
mandatory for passenger safety. It is just one reason why the city looks to
expand here or start over. 

Airport Director Baillis Bell says remodeling would not only be a pain for
passengers, it could be a never-ending process. "They liken remodeling an
active terminal building to trying to do heart surgery on a distance runner
in the middle of a race," Bell said.

Bell believes a new building will actually save money. The airport would be
more functional so the terminal would be smaller and cost less to run.
Counters consolidated for an easier check-in and a shorter walk through the
terminals.

They would build a new airport just west of the current one, or on the south
end of airport property by Kansas Highway 42. If approved, construction
could start in less than three years. It will take about two years before
passengers would check in at the new location. 

As for how much this would cost or where the money would come from, that's
up in the air.


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