Wichita Mid-Continent (ICT) held a ceremonial groundbreaking for its new terminal building Sept. 13.
The new facility, slated to open in 2015, has been dubbed Air Capital Terminal 3 and will replace the existing Mid-Continent terminal built in 1954.
Construction is scheduled to begin in mid- to late October and the building should be fully enclosed by February 2014. Next year, the airport will start building a new parking garage.
The entire terminal development program is budgeted for $160M, with the construction contract for the terminal building at $101.5M. the new terminal project will be funded with a combination of Federal Aviation Administration grants; Transportation Security Administration grants; passenger facility charges; concessions, parking and rental car revenue; and lease revenue.
Once completed, the terminal will be designed to mimic the shape of an aircraft wing. Travelers will be able to choose between the new parking garage or one of the economy or nearby automated surface parking lots. Rental car counters will be across the street from the terminal, and passengers who are dropped off will be under cover thanks to the curbside glass canopy.
Inside, the two-story naturally lit great hall will be accented by a large glass and aluminum centerpiece created by artist Ed Carpenter. Ticket Counters will have more room and free-standing electronic ticketing kiosks. Travelers checking bags can drop them on a conveyor belt by the airline ticket agent, and bags then will be screened by the TSA in-line explosive-detection equipment. From there, guests will take an elevator or escalator to the mezzanine, where they can await their flights while viewing displays that celebrate the city’s history of aviation. Past security will be four gates on the right and eight on the left, with more concessions, a business center, a children’s play area and seating with public electrical outlets and new USB outlets for charging mobile devices.
“The new terminal will be the airline gateway to the state of Kansas,” said Wichita, Kan., Mayor Carl Brewer. “It will serve as a front window into our city and our history. Visitors will know that Wichita gave birth to aircraft manufacturing and that more aircraft have been built here than anywhere in the world.”
