FIGHT THE NEW KCI MONEY GRAB!!!



Alec Monopoly is a groundbreaking artist who has transformed iconic symbols of American greed into political charged artistic expression. In much the same way, here's a note from our blog community which hopes to offer more insight and information on the current cash grab at the airport. Checkit:

Don't Let New KCI Passengers Get Skinned by a Monopoly

“Take a chill pill.” That’s Mayor James’ recent advice about the city’s negotiations with airlines about whether they will pay for the new KCI. Now comes a local news story, reported by TKC, quoting Southwest Airlines (SW). The story? SW continues to negotiate in good faith with the city and Edgemoor. The implication? Everything is on track, don’t worry. We should worry. Why? Read on.

The city is asking the airlines to pick up all the operating costs of the new airport, including a four billion construction hit (principal and interest over 35 years). The airline biz is one of the most competitive in the world. Airlines fight each other for every ticket, every nickel of operating costs. How likely is any airline to sign this deal, unless it gives them an advantage-- better yet monopoly-- over competitors? Answer: Somewhere in the range of not bloody likely to zero. SW is the largest domestic air carrier and widely seen as the no-frills traveler’s friend. We’ve seen suggestions that it would be great if the new airport were even a new SW hub. Be careful what you wish for. One analyst puts it this way:

“What all of this friendliness and insistence on simplicity and value hides is that Southwest is an economically ferocious airline. The same routes it created decades ago are now dominated by the company. If you want to fly St. Louis to Kansas City nonstop, you only have one option: Southwest. That’s true for hundreds of other routes too.”

What his piece is saying, and it’s far from alone, is be careful; don’t allow a single airline outsized influence on prices and competition. If a single carrier gets financial control, it can make all other airlines (and their passengers) using the new airport pay premium prices for everything from landing fees to baggage handling.

The new KCI needs real oversight from city leaders to protect the public interest (mayoral candidates, listening?). That oversight shouldn’t be limited merely to the cost of the new airport or which airline(s) will pay for it but should also include assurances that the flying public won’t get skinned by the deal in the form of reduced carrier choices and higher prices.
##############

You decide . . . 

Comments

  1. Needs more amenities. Places to play Angry Birds, Candy Crush, and Madden, a place to kneel and worship at the altar of Kardashian.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a shame. MCI is still in the top 3 of airports. Pretty sure most crybabies have never flown much and surely not international. Mci is fucking awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love that our mayor is like a regular cool dude who uses phrases like "take a chill pill."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He also mingles with the queers from Reality tv,he is so frosty.

      Delete
  4. A fiasco and financial catastrophe begun and now continued by amateurs.
    The airlines, EPA, and FAA are about the only adults in the room.
    Smart city.
    Hahahaha!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. The mayor is not concerned as long as he gets his kickback. This topic is over the heads of the mayoral candidates.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love that our Mayor is like a total ambulance chasing grifter who shines the shoes of developers while the streets run with the blood of his own people.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The remodel of the existing airport is now the only viable alternative. This City Council has proven over and over again that it is unable to make successful financially based decisions. It would be totally wrong for the Mayor and this Council to move forward with this airport project.

    ReplyDelete
  8. We don’t have a mayor or anyone on the city council who is smart enough to Make this deal work favorably for the taxpayers. Worse yet, we don’t have a mayor or anyone on the city council who cares about the city or its taxpayers best interests.

    ReplyDelete
  9. How bout no airline companies like France and alot of countries

    ReplyDelete
  10. Very interesting ideas. I would like to see the airport discussion restarted. This column makes it clear why there should be more oversight.

    ReplyDelete
  11. New KCI = Total ripoff.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Mayoral candidate Clay Chastain has said he will reopen the discussions for a remodeled MCI. What do we have to lose at this point in time? Remodel seems like the logical solution..

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

TKC COMMENT POLICY:

Be percipient, be nice. Don't be a spammer. BE WELL!!!

- The Management