---
title: "MCI is which airport? Kansas City"
description: "MCI is Kansas City International Airport in Kansas City, United States. Why the code is MCI and not something you could guess, plus the codes it gets mixed up with."
url: https://atoneplace.net/airport/mci/
site: "At One Place"
---

# What airport is MCI?

**MCI is: Kansas City International Airport**

Kansas City, United States

## Why the code is MCI

Mid-Continent International, the airport's name when the code was assigned in 1972.

The airport authority or a contemporaneous record states this directly.

## The airport

- **IATA code:** MCI
- **ICAO code:** KMCI
- **Airport:** Kansas City International Airport
- **City:** Kansas City, United States
- **Opened:** 1972
- **Code origin:** Documented

It opened as Mid-Continent International Airport and was renamed Kansas City International within the year, which was too late to matter for the code. The original terminals were three thin arcs designed so a passenger could park within 75 feet of the gate — an idea that stopped working the moment security screening required a single checkpoint, and the whole thing was replaced in 2023.

## The other code, KMCI

Every airport has two codes. The three-letter IATA code, MCI, is the one on your boarding pass and your luggage tag, and it is assigned for commercial use. The four-letter ICAO code, KMCI, is the one pilots and controllers use, and it is assigned geographically: the first letter or two identify the region, so every airport in the same part of the world shares a prefix. That is why KMCI looks nothing like MCI.

## Common questions

### What airport is MCI?

Kansas City International Airport, in Kansas City, United States.

### Why is Kansas City's airport called MCI?

Mid-Continent International, the airport's name when the code was assigned in 1972.

### What is the difference between MCI and KMCI?

MCI is the IATA code, used commercially — tickets, timetables, luggage tags. KMCI is the ICAO code, used operationally by pilots and air traffic control, and assigned geographically by region.

## Related pages

- [United States](https://atoneplace.net/country/united-states/)
- [The flag of United States](https://atoneplace.net/flag/united-states/)
- [Airport codes in United States](https://atoneplace.net/airport/in/united-states/)
- [What airport is JFK?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/jfk/)
- [What airport is LAX?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/lax/)
- [What airport is ORD?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/ord/)
- [What airport is ATL?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/atl/)
- [What airport is MCO?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/mco/)
- [What airport is DFW?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/dfw/)
- [What airport is EWR?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/ewr/)
- [What airport is SFO?](https://atoneplace.net/airport/sfo/)

## Sources

- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)