Following a 2010 merger with Continental Airlines, those flying in and out of Kansas City International Airport will find United Airlines re-located to new quarters in the airport's terminal C Oct. 31 The Kanas City Star reported.
The airport's Terminal A will now only have US Airways in operation, but this will conclude in early 2014 leaving the area empty because the airline merged with American Airlines in another
"When you say 'closed' it brings to mind all these dark images," airport spokeswoman Kathleen Hefner told The Star. "It doesn't mean turning off all the utilities and boarding up the windows. We'll have to keep it above freezing levels and keep it operable in case we need it. A sports team might fly in at the spur of the moment or a charter flight might drop in."
Officials will then decide whether the terminal should be torn down so an upgraded one can be built to serve all passengers using the airport.
"I don't think this action (mothballing Terminal A) should be read that we're going to demolish it or anything," city councilman Russ Johnson, chairman of the project's transportation and infrastructure committee told The Star. "That decision is yet to be made formally by all the people looking at it. In the meantime, it's there when we need it, but we'll not be paying the expenses of keeping it open."
According to The Star, officials are currently discussing a $1.2 billion proposal that would turn the airport into one terminal rather than the three it has now.
United Airlines operates 33 departures and arrivals out of the airport a day. These will be moved to gate's 61-69 in terminal C.
The airline will move from terminal A after the final flight of the day comes in Oct. 30 at 11:28 p.m. The first flight out of terminal c will depart at 6 a.m. the next day. The new digs will have food establishments for the first time allowing travelers to shop and eat in after going through security.
The moves out of Terminal A were precipitated by the merger of United and Continental Airlines in 2010 and the pending merger of American Airlines and US Airways this year. The resulting operations will now all be in Terminal C, filling previously dead space there.
