The Evolution Of New Orleans Airport: A Historical Overview

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is a world-class airport located in Kenner, Louisiana, just 11 miles from downtown New Orleans. With a rich history dating back to the 1930s, the airport has undergone several transformations over the years. The current terminal, which opened in November 2019, replaced the previous terminal that had been in use since 1959. The new terminal offers modern amenities, improved security, and a better overall experience for travellers, solidifying its place as a key transportation hub for the region.

The airport's history, including its original name, Moisant Field

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (IATA: MSY) is located in Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, 11 miles (18 km) west of downtown New Orleans. The airport is owned by the City of New Orleans and is the primary commercial airport for the New Orleans metropolitan area and southeast Louisiana.

Plans for the airport began in the 1930s when it became apparent that the municipal airport on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain was no longer large enough to service the city's growing air transportation needs. However, it wasn't until the mid-1940s that the airport began to take shape. During World War II, the land that would become Moisant Field was taken over by the U.S. Government and used as an air base. After the war, the land was returned to the City of New Orleans, and in May 1946, commercial air service began at Moisant Field. The airport was named for aviation pioneer John Bevins Moisant, who died in a plane crash on the site in 1910.

By January 1947, Moisant Field was considered one of the largest commercial airports in the nation, encompassing 1360 acres of land with three 5,000-foot runways and one 7,000-foot runway. In 1959, a new terminal and two new concourses were added, and the airport's name was changed to the New Orleans International Airport in 1960. The airport underwent its first major expansion in 1974 with the addition of two new concourses at the east end of the main terminal, bringing the total number of gates to 42.

In 2001, the airport was renamed the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in honour of the famous native-born musician's 100th birthday. In 2019, a new world-class terminal was opened, replacing the original 1959 structure. The new terminal cost $1.3 billion and features a unique design that evokes the geography of the Delta region and the soft curves of the Mississippi River.

The new terminal, which opened in 2019

The new terminal offers modern amenities such as free Wi-Fi, water bottle refilling stations, charging ports at half of the gate seats, and a post-security pet relief area. It also features music venues before and after security, including music at the centralised baggage claim area. The terminal has more than 40 concessions for food, drink, news, and retail options, including local chefs and restaurants such as Folse Market, Leah's Kitchen, and Emeril's Table.

The terminal complex is described as ultramodern, with a design that evokes the geography of the Delta region and soft curves of the Mississippi River. The building is symmetrical, forming a gentle arc on three sides, with a monumental roof that rises towards the centre, cresting over a large central skylight. The facades of the terminal are primarily glass, providing views of the airfield.

The new terminal has received praise from passengers and pundits, with USA Today naming it "one of America's three top airports in 2020". The terminal not only improves the functionality and efficiency of the airport but also reflects the city's vision for the future, celebrating its rich history while embracing modern design and amenities.

The old terminal's design and architecture

The old terminal of the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) was built in 1959 and served as the gateway to the city for almost 60 years. The airport was originally named Moisant Field after daredevil aviator John Moisant, who died in an airplane crash on the site in 1910.

The terminal's design and architecture have undergone several changes over the years. When commercial service began at Moisant Field in 1946, the terminal occupied a large, makeshift hangar-like building. The new terminal complex that debuted in 1959 featured a mid-century design by the firm Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse with Herbert A. Benson and George J. Riehl. The building's striking design included a vintage parabola structure, with a nine-foot-high Louis Armstrong sculpture presiding over the entrance.

The terminal was greatly expanded in the 1970s, with the addition of two new concourses, A and B, and a lengthened main terminal ticketing area. The original 1959 concourses were renamed Concourse C and Concourse D, with Concourse D receiving a four-gate addition designed to accommodate widebody aircraft. The airport's expansion continued in the 1990s and 2000s, with two rebuilt concourses and a total of 47 gates by the time it was replaced in 2019.

The old terminal had a unique character and played an important role in the history of New Orleans. It served as a shelter and staging area during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and was the site of countless emotional reunions and farewells. While the terminal is no longer in regular commercial use, it has found temporary life as a location for TV and film productions and even as a skate park.

The airport's use as a shelter during Hurricane Katrina

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) was used as a shelter and staging area during Hurricane Katrina. The airport was originally named Moisant Field after daredevil aviator John Moisant, who died in 1910 in an airplane crash on agricultural land where the airport is now located. In 1961, the name was changed to New Orleans International Airport.

The airport was shut down in September 1947 when it was submerged under two feet of water in the wake of the 1947 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane. In 1959, a new terminal complex debuted towards the end of Mayor DeLesseps "Chep" Morrison's administration. This structure, greatly expanded in the 1970s and the recipient of two rebuilt concourses in the 1990s and 2000s, comprised the passenger terminal until its replacement with the new North Terminal in November 2019.

MSY reopened to commercial flights on September 13, 2005, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina the previous month, with four flights operated by Delta Air Lines to Atlanta and a Northwest Airlines flight to Memphis. Slowly, service from other carriers began to resume. All international service into MSY was suspended while the FIS facility was closed post-Katrina. This facility was reopened in time to accommodate chartered flights arriving from London, Manchester, Bournemouth, and Nottingham (UK) carrying tourists arriving for the 2006 Mardi Gras and set to depart from the Port of New Orleans aboard a cruise liner.

In the days immediately following the disaster, the Air Transport Association coordinated the scheduling of aircraft and crews for an operation dubbed "Operation Air Care." Over a six-day period, Operation Air Care evacuated more than 13,000 people over 130 flights.

The airport's future, including demolition and redevelopment plans

The future of the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is bright, with a new, modern terminal having opened in November 2019, replacing the old terminal which had served the city for almost 60 years. The new terminal is part of a long-term strategic development plan to meet the needs of the travelling public and keep up with changing aviation industry standards and security requirements.

The old terminal, located on the south side of the airfield, is no longer in regular commercial use. However, it has not been completely demolished and still stands, with the airport's administrative offices, emergency operations centre, law enforcement offices, and maintenance and carpentry shops remaining in the building. The iconic 1959 parabola dome structure and Concourse D, which opened in 1996, will be preserved and repurposed. There are also plans to repurpose the old terminal for film and TV productions, with shows such as 'NCIS: New Orleans' and 'The Amazing Race' already having been filmed there.

In the next 18-24 months, the original 1950s departures hall and Concourses A and B will be the first to be demolished. The airport's architectural team is currently figuring out how to break down a building with multiple generations of construction, which makes the process more complex.

The redevelopment of the current terminal's footprint is crucial to the economic future of the airport and the region. The airport is in the midst of a 20-year master plan that seeks to redeploy the real estate into space for hangars, cargo, a logistics hub, and even light rail. The airport's director of aviation, Kevin Dolliole, recognises the need for the new terminal, stating, "The new terminal kind of makes you forget about the old one."

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