New Wichita Airport Terminal Years Away, But On Track

December 28, 2009

By Rebecca Gannon

(WICHITA, Kan.)

There will be new security procedures in place at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport, when the new terminal opens in 2013.

Before you ever get to your flight, you get to orange cones and construction equipment at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport.

Consider the construction a sign of progress. After 10 years of planning and preparing, the new $160 million terminal is becoming a reality. The current work will lay down infrastructure for utilities.

Across the street, a chain link fence marks where the new terminal will go. "That will be where the building will sit," said Assistant Director of Airports Brad Christopher. He pointed over his shoulder to an area west of the current terminal, "and all the construction will be confined within that area."

The new terminal will be about the same size as the current terminal. The difference will be in efficiency. Airport authorities say 1.6 million people can go through the current Mid Continent terminal every year. The new terminal would handle about 2 million.

"This is all I've known for 30 years," said Perry Schuetz. He travels from Great Bend to Wichita every time he flies out of Kansas. "I've gotten accustomed to it, but I'm ready for a change." Then he added, "Maybe."

Change will come to every part of Mid-Continent. More ticket and check in lines, upgrades to the luggage check and current security procedures. Even changes at the baggage carousel.

But you'll have to wait to experience it. It will take three years to build the new terminal, after crews break ground. And the groundbreaking will happen sometime in summer of 2010.

A federal grant will pay to upgrade luggage screening in the new terminal. It will create a centralized luggage safety area, so ticket counter staff can send checked bags to security.

Right now, passengers must haul their bags to security themselves.

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