The Kansas City Star reports that top executive for the city’s biggest airline was in town this week to talk to business leaders. Southwest executive vice president Ron Ricks says the single-terminal proposal would triple its costs. That’s because airlines would pay much of the expense through increased landing fees and ticket surcharges.

Dallas-based Southwest is KCI’s anchor tenant, operating 40 percent of its flights there. Ricks says the $1.2 billion proposal would be a disincentive for airlines to service Kansas City.

He says the airline is confident it could come up with something for the community at a lower cost.