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SPECIAL EVENTS  
May | June 2026      AirportImprovement.com
MCI
airports—including those in Lee’s Summit, Johnson County and 
Lawrence—to develop a structured general aviation management 
plan. The strategy accounts for each airport’s capacity, including 
FBO resources, runway throughput, parking availability and 
turnaround capability. The goal is to ensure that reservations and 
arrivals are distributed efficiently across the system, distinguishing 
between aircraft that will park for extended stays and those 
making quick turnarounds to drop off passengers.
The Playbook 
At MCI, nearly every aspect of the passenger 
experience is being refined. “We’re looking at it 
from an all-hands-on-deck perspective,” says 
Adam Freeman, deputy director of operations 
at the airport. That means drafting employees 
from across the organization. 
“We’re utilizing staff whose normal duties 
aren’t in the terminal to help with customer 
service and wayfinding,” Freeman explains. 
“Maintenance, administrative personnel—everyone is helping.”
The goal is to manage not just volume, but complexity as well. 
To support travelers who will be arriving for matches, heading to 
fan events and navigating unfamiliar transportation systems, the 
airport is redesigning how people move once they land.
“One of our parking lots is being used as a depot for KC Direct 
charter buses transporting passengers between the airport, the 
fan experience [events] and the stadium,” Freeman says. “We’ve 
also created a separate pickup area for passengers going 
directly to the fan experience [areas].”
Airport shops and restaurants are scaling 
up, too. “Vantage, our concessions contractor, 
is holding a hiring fair specifically to add staff,” 
says Jackson Overstreet, public information 
officer for the Kansas City Aviation Department. 
“They’re looking to get people in and trained 
up ahead of the World Cup.” Vendors are 
preparing FIFA World Cup merchandise, and 
food/beverage locations are planning to offer 
international menu items tied to participating countries.
While much of the work is behind the scenes, some changes 
are meant to be seen. A large countdown clock, located just 
beyond the security checkpoint in a high-traffic area, ticks down 
the days to kickoff—a highly visible reminder of what’s coming to 
the airport and city. 
ADAM FREEMAN
JACKSON OVERSTREET

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