Sunday, August 19, 2007
I’ve landed at major international airports — London, Rome, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam. And at primitive strips with no amenities at all, like the one at Douala, Cameroon.
I’ve hiked for what seemed like miles between gates at some of the important hub terminals in this country, in cities like Chicago and New York.
I’m not an architect or a contractor. I don’t pretend to be an authority on airport design. Or airport security. Or traffic flow. Or on the preferences of the vendors of snacks, magazines, books and souvenirs.
My only credential is as a fairly experienced traveler.
But I will say this: Every time I return by air from somewhere, I murmur a fervent thanks — in my mind, if not always aloud — for the great good luck of arriving home at an airport as user-friendly as the one that has served our city these last 35 years.
And that’s not just my opinion. A national study whose results were released this past spring ranked Kansas City International first in passenger satisfaction among medium-size airports in the U.S.
So it was startling to read recently that “city officials” — only one of them named in the news story — are considering plans that could mean replacing the three existing KCI terminals and consolidating services in one or two larger facilities.
A Florida consulting firm, hired for $3.3 million in public money, has offered five possible concepts for the redesign. Keeping the present terminals, according to the report, isn’t among the favored proposals.
I’m not quite prepared to call this a stealth attack. Not quite, but almost. Clearly the idea has gone forward with very little community notice or involvement.
The news story said the concepts were unveiled at a small open house hosted by the city Aviation Department. Were you invited? How were the attendees chosen? How generally was the event publicized? Did you even know about it?
The interests of the parties to this affair are perfectly clear.
Food vendors and the operators of airport retail shops would prefer the consolidation of passenger traffic into a single terminal, making their products more visible and increasing their profits.
But for most travelers, the nearness of burgers and fries and the availability of trinkets rank way below the convenience of parking and boarding.
Consultants consult. It’s what they’re paid to do. New access roads are envisioned, and road builders build roads. Contractors demolish and construct. That’s their livelihood.
And city functionaries hatch plans.
The Aviation Department’s director leaves no doubt about where he stands on the matter. KCI, he declares, “is outdated and inefficient.”
But that’s not his call. The decision will belong to the City Council.
And the issue is under the radar no longer. The arguments will be aired. The public — in particular, the traveling public — will be heard from. Loudly, I suspect, and clearly.
The council will be well advised to listen.