KC's downtown airport turns 85 years old

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City’s downtown airport is marking its 85th anniversary.

The airport located at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas rivers was dedicated by the famed trans-Atlantic flyer Charles Lindbergh in 1927.

It was a commercial airport until 1972, when Kansas City International Airport – originally known as Mid-Continent International Airport – opened 20 miles to the north and all major airline service moved there.

However, downtown -- now known as Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport in honor of the former mayor -- is still quite viable, attracting a large number of corporate, charter and recreational flyers.

"Over the years it’s become a strong general and business aviation airport, where the movers and shakers who are visiting KC, most of them are leaving and arriving at downtown airport,” said Joe McBride, the marketing and communications manager for Kansas City’s aviation department.

Up to 700 aircraft per day take off from or land at the downtown airport.