The City of New Orleans and the New Orleans Aviation Board announced that the new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) has opened to the public on. All 16 commercial airlines at MSY will operate from the new terminal located at 1 Terminal Drive, Kenner, LA, and the existing facility at 900 Airline Dr., Kenner, LA, will close to the public.
“The opening of the new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is a major milestone for the City of New Orleans and for our region,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
“The economy of the City is diversifying and thriving, and this new facility will accommodate the increased traffic being attracted to the area. The new airport terminal is the largest infrastructure project for New Orleans since the Superdome, and we look forward to providing our residents and visitors with a new and improved airport experience.”
“This will be an historic moment for the people of New Orleans and the entire gulf coast region. As the largest commercial airport in the state of Louisiana, we know this infrastructure investment will have a lasting impact in our community. I strongly believe the new MSY gives us all the best opportunity to compete in the global, 21st-century economy,” said Hon. Michael Bagneris, chair of the New Orleans Aviation Board.
“We are thrilled to announce the opening of the new terminal. With modern conveniences like a consolidated security checkpoint and an inline baggage screening system, the new facility will be a major improvement for travelers. When we open the doors, passengers will feel the spirit of the New Orleans region throughout the facility through the presence of local restaurants and shops that characterize our distinct culture,” said Kevin Dolliole, Director of Aviation for MSY.
New Terminal Features
The brand new, world-class airport terminal will serve as a crucial economic driver for the New Orleans metropolitan region and provide a lasting impression to visitors with its modern design and open architectural concept.
The new MSY airport terminal spans 972,000 square feet and features three concourses, 35 gates, two new parking garages for short-term and long-term parking, a surface parking lot, and an economy garage with shuttle service. Concessions, located past security checkpoints, will feature more than 40 food, beverage, news, gift and specialty retail options designed to cultivate an indulgent experience for locals and visitors alike.
Other amenities available at the new terminal include:
Fast, free Wi-Fi
Chargers available at 50 percent of the seats in the gate areas
Water bottle refilling stations post-security
Three Mothers Rooms
Fully-automated restrooms with sanitary seat covers
A pet relief area post security
Music venues located pre and post security
In-line baggage screening system
Three curbside check-in locations with easy access to the Short Term Garage
Driving to the New Terminal
Travelers will take a different route to access the airport. The new terminal is located in closer proximity to the region’s main thoroughfare, Interstate10 (I-10). Travelers will exit Loyola Drive from I-10, cross over Veterans Boulevard and proceed on the new dedicated Airport roadway. The State’s Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) in close coordination with the City of Kenner recently completed improvements to the roadways to accommodate traffic flow through the Veterans/Loyola corridor.
From downtown New Orleans, take I-10 West and exit at Loyola Drive. Turn left at Loyola Drive and continue straight across Veterans Boulevard onto Terminal Drive, which is the Airport’s dedicated roadway system. From there, follow the signage to access the departures curb, arrivals curb, parking options, etc.
From west of the Airport, take I-10 East and exit at Loyola Drive. Turn right at Loyola Drive and continue straight across Veterans Boulevard onto Terminal Drive, which is the Airport’s dedicated roadway system. From there, follow the signage to access the departures curb, arrivals curb, parking options, etc.
From Airline Drive, turn onto the existing Airport Access Road, continue straight toward Veterans Boulevard. Turn left at Veterans Boulevard, and turn left onto Terminal Drive, which is the Airport’s dedicated roadway system. From there, follow the signage to access the departures curb, arrivals curb, parking options, etc.
Arriving at the New Terminal
Once passengers arrive at the new terminal, they should follow signage to the designated area for transportation options such as personal vehicle pickups, taxis, rideshares, limos, and public transportation, as well as hotel, parking and rental car shuttles.
Travelers who departed from the existing airport terminal before the opening on Nov. 6 will arrive at the new terminal facility. Shuttles will be available to take passengers to the Former Short Term and Long Term Garages located on the south side.
Parking at the New Terminal
With over 8,000 spaces, there will be four different parking options to choose from and more than enough space to meet the airport’s parking demand for coming years.
The new Short Term Garage will feature 2,190 spaces as well as a walkway directly from the fourth level of the garage to the Ticketing and Check-in area on the third level of the terminal and ground level access to the Baggage Claim.
The new, 2,750-space Long Term Garage is located across from the arrivals area on the east side of the facility.
Another parking option adjacent to the terminal is a 685-space Surface Parking Lot, which offers convenient parking just a short walk away at a lower rate.
The garage that currently operates as the Long Term Garage at the existing terminal will become a remote 2,438-space Economy Garage with optimized shuttle service available to and from the new terminal.
Project History
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has constructed a new terminal to better meet the needs of the traveling public now and into the future. The original terminal building was constructed in 1959, making it 60 years old. In addition to the challenges that arise from maintaining an aging building, airport security requirements and aviation industry best practices have changed drastically since that time.
To provide the most efficient and cost-effective facility the City desires, the Airport is replacing the existing terminal with a new, $1 billion terminal on the north side of airport property.
In August 2011, the New Orleans Aviation Board conducted an in-depth and robust analysis of the options for a new airport terminal facility. The analysis focused on: design, financial feasibility, environmental impact, and land use. A team of airport consultants evaluated four different alternatives – refurbishment of the existing terminal, expansion on the south side, a new terminal on the west side, and a new terminal on the north side. Each of these options would allow continued use of the current runways and would be located within the airport’s existing property footprint.
On April 17, 2013, the Airport announced its decision to move forward with a plan to construct a new terminal facility; the “Northside Alternative” was chosen as the most feasible option for a new terminal facility.
Construction of the new terminal began January 2016 by a joint venture of local and national construction companies, Hunt Gibbs Boh Metro. The project created thousands of new construction jobs and significant opportunities for local businesses and disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) in the region.
Commercial air service began in 1946 at the Airport when it was called “Moisant Field,” named for aviation pioneer John Bevins Moisant and formerly used as an air base during World War II. In 1959, construction of a terminal building with two concourses was completed and dedicated. The official name of the airport was changed in 1960 from Moisant Field to New Orleans International Airport, but its three letter airport identifier remained “MSY” for Moisant Stock Yards. The original 1959 terminal is still in use. The concourses were built and reconstructed at various times over the past 40 years.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is owned by the City of New Orleans and governed by the New Orleans Aviation Board.
