Airplane Taxiing on Taxiway

Johnson County’s airports have received a $5.6 million Airport Improvement Program grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for the complete rebuild of Taxiway Bravo at the Johnson County Executive Airport. This is project will be 100% federal funded.

Taxiway Bravo was designed by Burns & McDonnell and will be constructed by Emery Sapp & Sons as the general contractor. Construction is slated to begin in May and is anticipated to be completed in late 2022.

Taxiway Bravo is the last of three major pavement reconstruction projects that the airports have partnered with the FAA to complete since 2018. The first two were the main runway, 18-36 ($5.6 million) and Taxiway Alpha ($4.2 million), which was fully funded by the FAA.

Originally named Morse Field, Johnson County Executive Airport was constructed in the early 1940s as a Naval auxiliary field during World War II in support of the Olathe Naval Air Station, which is now New Century AirCenter. The airport was deeded to the City of Olathe in 1951, and from the city to Johnson County in 1967. At that time, the Board of County Commissioners created the Johnson County Airport Commission to manage, operate and improve the airport.

In 2021, Johnson County Executive Airport and New Century AirCenter had more than 115,000 combined flights, making the Johnson County facilities the busiest airport system in the state of Kansas by more than 20%.

Find additional details on the Johnson County Executive Airport.