Lee’s Summit Airport name change sparks concern among Kansas City leaders

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — There are some concerns about a possible name change for the Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport. In the future, leaders want to call it the Greater Kansas City Regional Airport.

Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Quinton Lucas and officials in that office are questioning the name change.

Saturday evening, Lucas posted on X that his city has been exclusively attached to Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport and Kansas City International Airport since the beginning of aviation in our area.

“We will work with our friends at Lee’s Summit, the FAA and our courts to avoid future confusion about Kansas City and to prevent some of the conflicts and confusion seen in other communities,” part of the message reads by Lucas.

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Lee’s Summit Airport Director Joel Arrington spoke with FOX4 on Monday. He told us he saw Lucas’ message Monday morning.

“No, I don’t know, you know,” Arrington responded Monday when asked if he had a response to the mayor’s message. “At this point I don’t, no. He is entitled to his comments.

Arrington says the airport he manages does not have commercial flights.

“Commercial flights are all going to be directed to Kansas City International,” he said. “Our airport primarily serves general aviation aircraft, and therefore there is no commercial airport or commercial service to this airport.”

Lucas’ general counsel, Gavriel Schreiber, provided more details Monday afternoon. He says Kansas City will work with Lee’s Summit to make sure it’s not confusing for people in the metro looking for the airport.

“I plug something into Google Maps and go wherever it takes me,” Schreiber said. “I just think, like the mayor said, we need to make sure we think about all the possibilities.” We have a great brand in Kansas City and with the Kansas City Airport.

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The change still requires final approval from the Lee’s Summit City Council on Oct. 8 at 6 p.m., but it also requires approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). FAA approval could take more than six months.

Arrington says the airport he manages has grown over the past 10 years. Now it can accommodate larger planes, helping business owners and executives who go into the city and drive in the metro rather than in the city proper. This is part of the reason they requested a name change.

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