New Orleans airport plans major expansion
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The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is gearing up for its next major expansion as passenger growth continues.
Why it matters: Almost 85% of people flying into Louisiana use MSY, officials say.
The big picture: The airport's proposed 20-year master plan outlines big changes, including:
- Replacing the surface lot with a new parking garage
- Reworking the road system to reduce congestion
- Building a second terminal
- Redeveloping the old terminal for new businesses
The fine print: The FAA must approve the master plan, which has been in the works for several years.
- The airport has submitted the document, and approval could take weeks or months, Mayor Helena Moreno says.
- Officials presented an overview Friday, but said the full report wouldn't be available until the FAA accepts it.
The timeline: Kevin Dolliole, MSY's director of aviation, says the airport is targeting 2031 for completion of the first phase, including road improvements, a new parking garage and an additional 15 gates.
- The second terminal and further expansions are tied to specific passenger counts, which officials expect to hit within 10 years.
Between the lines: Adding more gates doesn't necessarily translate into more flights, Dolliole says.
- The frequency of flights reflects the region's economic health — the stronger the demand, the more flights there will be, he says.
- Southwest is MSY's biggest carrier, followed by American, Delta and United, he said.
- Last year, about 12.5 million passengers used the airport.
Inside the room: The announcement drew a rare show of regional unity.
- New Orleans owns the airport, which sits on land in Kenner in Jefferson Parish. The runway extends into St. Charles Parish.
- Leaders from all three parishes were on stage, with a half-dozen more parish presidents on the front row.
- The airport attracts travelers from Lake Charles to Jackson, Mississippi.
The bottom line: "Possibilities in this airport are as broad and as wide as the skies we fly," said Michael Bagneris, the chair of the New Orleans Aviation Board.
