Eastern Airlines chooses Kansas City as home for new headquarters
The airline is pledging to invest nearly $5 million and create 165 new jobs with the move.
One year of completion on the largest infrastructure project in Kansas City history. His new KCI terminal has been extremely busy since it opened in late February. Year-end numbers have not yet been released by each airline, but the city expects KCI to carry about 11.4 million passengers last year. This includes several months of old terminals. The aviation authority has tracked more than 100,000 flights in 2023. KCI has seen many firsts and changes, including the appointment of Melissa Cooper as the new director of aviation in Kansas City. We went to the airport and spoke with her about the new terminal and its future plans. Thank you for speaking with me today. You’ve been in the aviation industry for years. how? Launching. Creating and maintaining such a project is not an easy task. What does it feel like to start a new year? Want to look back on everything that happened? Well, 2023 was Finney Terminal. What an experience it would be for the city and to be a part of it. Born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas City residents are here to provide our community with a great terminal, change careers, and offer something life-changing. they will be here forever. I was very excited. We like to say that KCI is like your first impression of Kansas City. This is the front entrance. What kind of feedback have you received? So far? The feedback was phenomenal. All the travelers, residents and community love it. Well, we’re actually getting feedback. Other airports are ruined. It’s a wonderful facility. And we really thought about Kansas City and what it needed. And we delivered too. Do you hear from people considering similar projects in other cities? What are the conversations? I’ve had several calls and meetings. We’ve probably talked to 20 different airports that are involved in some type of terminal construction project and really want to hear the lessons we’ve learned. Well, our airline says this is the correct airport. Please contact us by all means. That’s why we share our stories, successes, and failures to help the entire community create a better airport experience for everyone. There’s a bit of a learning curve, so let’s talk about that. Especially for people who are used to going to some round terminal, going through security, etc. There was a problem. I think that’s the biggest growing pain. I know what I’m going to say is right under the curb on arrivals where people will park and there will be backup. I know there are plans in the works to perhaps extend the lanes and improve the cell phone zones. How do we learn from those problems and how do we grow here? Yes, we have a separate facility. So there will always be some growing pains. The old facility we had had longer commercial curb lengths and, well, maybe less enforcement, but that changed after the nine-over-eleven disaster in 2001. Our community didn’t have to grow because of it. We did some unusual things. If you leave your car parked, people will run in and retrieve your passengers and items. In fact, you can’t do that at other airports. So we’ve done a lot of education, a lot of training, uh, a lot of enforcement. Both traffic controllers say to move on. The number of cell phones has increased, er, knowledge, where are they? How do I get there? Wait until the passenger actually picks up the bag and gets to the curb before exiting. Well, he has two lanes. Please use both. Are you okay. We are Kansas City. Nice. We are not. We prefer to stand in line, but do not cut their two lanes. Please use them. However, we are considering some long-term issues. How do you build different infrastructure? Do you need three lanes? Should you close a lane to traffic? Is your cell phone in the right place? Well, a passenger waiting for a loved one to arrive. What amenities do we need for our passengers? That’s why we look at everything, learn intermediate, long-term, and continue to grow for our passengers. I think it’s called the Kansas City Knights. I think this is the only video I’ve ever seen on how to park at an airport. Where else can we grow? What have we learned so far? What we’ve learned is that we need more staff. Brand new facilities, white floors, lots of windows, everything a passenger could want, open and airy. They get dirty. So we needed people who knew how to train on these materials and who were actually there to do the work. Therefore, traffic control and cleanliness are our top priorities. Well, we have great employees who want to do the right thing. And keep working on it and growing. The holiday season has begun. What did we learn from that? Well, people in Kansas City love our space. Many of the people who parked in our garage were seeing it for the first time. Well, please bring balloons and flowers. I’m looking forward to seeing what the passengers are like. I think we’ve learned that people want to travel. People want connection. Oh, people matter. So we did everything we could for the first time. Many first-time travelers have great experiences at airports in the new year. Of course you can’t build a place this big, right? Don’t try to expand your services or bring in business. So. So what is being done? What can you share? What are your goals for 2024? Well, growth is important. We built her $1.5 billion terminal on time and on budget during a pandemic when the population was plummeting. We’ve grown beyond our pre-coronavirus numbers. We flirt with the 911 number. And we really see an opportunity for airlines to expand and grow. We expect services to return from several different markets. A new market will emerge. We are actively in discussions with various airlines and incumbent carriers to offer new services, increase services, increase aircraft size and increase fleet size for our passengers. Does that also mean international flights? That will be our goal and our continued growth plan. We don’t have any special information or special surprises, but our focus is on providing service.
Eastern Airlines chooses Kansas City as home for new headquarters
The airline is pledging to invest nearly $5 million and create 165 new jobs with the move.
Updated: February 21, 2024 11:23 AM CST
Kansas City will once again be home to the airline. On Wednesday, Eastern Airlines, a domestic and international cargo airline, announced plans to make the Midwestern city the home of its new headquarters. The airline promises the move will result in a $4.7 million investment and the creation of 165 new jobs in Kansas City. The relocation of Eastern’s headquarters will consolidate all operations at 11500 North Ambassador Drive in Platte County, near the Kansas City International Airport. The move was foreshadowed in 2021 when Eastern Airlines acquired Alta Aero Technic, LLC, a Kansas City-based maintenance, repair and overhaul facility, creating a passenger-to-cargo design company called Foxtrot Aero, LLC. It started when I did. “He has had great experience operating two other businesses at MCI, Alta Aero Technique and Foxtrot,” Eastern Airlines Chief Financial Officer Stephen Buescher said. “Kansas City and its airport leave a great legacy in our industry. We considered many cities to relocate our headquarters, but the state of Missouri and the city’s enthusiasm and the Missouri Factory Program Our decision was made easy by the generous support of the airline.” Eastern Airlines has between 10 and 15 aircraft parked at any one time. The Kansas City Economic Development Corporation estimates that the jobs created by the new headquarters will include maintenance specialist, pilot and flight operations roles, with an average salary of $96,000. “This company’s move is a testament to the economic strength of our state and the collaboration of our great partners who help Missouri thrive,” said Michelle Hattaway, acting director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The airline’s history dates back to its founding in 1926 and was considered one of the “Big Four” domestic airlines before deregulation in the 1970s and 1980s. In January 2024, the company announced the Boeing acquisition of Hillwood Airlines and its passenger and cargo operations. The 737 was joined by the B767 and B777 aircraft groups. Eastern is primarily focused on intercompany charter business, with a particular emphasis on U.S. government business. Eastern will also benefit from the Missouri Mills Program, which provides companies with access to capital through withholding and tax credits to create jobs. The company also receives support from Missouri One Start. “We applaud Eastern Airlines’ decision to relocate to Kansas City and look forward to the airline’s growth in the region,” Missouri Governor Mike Parson said in a press release announcing the move. “The state’s advantages, including its strategic location, low costs and skilled workforce, continue to attract investment from major companies.”
Kansas City will once again be home to the airline.
on wednesday, eastern airlinesThe national and international cargo airline announced plans to make the Midwestern city the home of its new headquarters.
The airline promises the move will result in a $4.7 million investment and the creation of 165 new jobs in Kansas City.
The relocation of Eastern’s headquarters will consolidate all operations at 11500 North Ambassador Drive in Platte County, near the Kansas City International Airport.
Preludes to this move began in 2021 when Eastern purchased a Kansas City-based maintenance, repair and overhaul facility. Alta Aero Techniquefounded a passenger-to-freight design company called LLC. foxtrot aeroLLC.
“Eastern Airlines Holdings has had great experience operating two other businesses at MCI, Alta Aero Technique and Foxtrot,” said Stephen Buescher, Eastern Airlines’ chief financial officer. “Kansas City and its airport leave a tremendous legacy in our industry. We considered many cities to relocate our headquarters, but the enthusiasm of the state and city of Missouri and the generous support of the Missouri Factory Program made us want to move our headquarters.” That made our decision easy.”
Eastern Airlines has 10 to 15 aircraft parked at MCI’s hangar facility at any given time.
The Kansas City Economic Development Corporation estimates that the jobs created by the new headquarters will include maintenance specialist, pilot and flight operations roles, with an average salary of $96,000.
“We are proud to support Eastern Airlines in establishing its headquarters in Kansas City,” said Michelle Hattaway, acting director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. “This company’s move is a testament to the strength of Missouri’s economy and the collaboration of great partners who help Missouri thrive.”
The airline dates back to its founding in 1926 and was considered one of the “Big Four” domestic airlines before deregulation in the 1970s and 1980s.
In January 2024, the company announced the acquisition of Hillwood Airways and its Boeing 737 passenger and freighter fleet, adding B767s and B777s. Eastern primarily focuses on business-to-business charter business, with a particular emphasis on U.S. government business.
The East will also benefit. missouri works program, provides businesses with access to capital through withholding and tax credits to create jobs.The company also receives support from: missouri one start.
“We applaud Eastern Airlines’ decision to relocate to Kansas City and look forward to the airline’s growth in the region,” Missouri Governor Mike Parson said in a press release announcing the move. “The state’s advantages, including its strategic location, low costs and skilled workforce, continue to attract investment from major companies.”
