KCI warns of heavy traffic this summer
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New imaging technology at KCI. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
Travelers should expect heavy traffic at KCI through July, especially around World Cup game days, airport officials say.
Why it matters: Travelers could encounter longer lines and delays as large groups of tournament travelers clog lines and summer trips push security into overdrive.
What they're saying: "We will see a significant increase in volume on Wednesday after Tuesday's game, and we'll see that after every match here," Melissa Cooper, director of aviation for the city of Kansas City, tells Axios.
- Summer travel is already "more consistently heavy than holiday travel," she says.
Zoom out: KCI increased its total passenger capacity this summer, expecting up to 1,395,000 people in June and nearly 1,442,000 in July.
- Knowing how to get through security fast will keep all those people moving and avoid hold-ups, officials say.
Flashback: In December, KCI installed a new advanced imaging technology (AIT), in which passengers pause between two panels and do a hands-down stance.
- The AIT panels replaced the hands-up body scanners.
- Officials say the new scanners are faster and can detect more items, including non-metals like paper.
Don't try to fly with items that have an intended purpose of cutting, hitting or doing anything that could cause harm, officials say.
- That includes a circular saw, transportation security officer Gabriel Hernandez pointed out — and yes, someone tried to bring one through security.
- Other no-fly items included mini souvenir Royals bats, tools over 7 inches, torches, tasers and pens with knife compartments.
Travis' thought bubble: I like to play a little game every time I fly to see how close I can cut it between arrival and boarding, since KCI's security is so fast.
- "Don't do that," Cooper told me, especially on "match day minus one."
The bottom line: There's lots to do at KCI once through security. If you end up with a little extra time on your hands, it's probably not the worst thing.