Airports Serving New Orleans: A Comprehensive Guide

New Orleans, Louisiana is served by the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). The airport is located in Kenner, Jefferson Parish, and is owned by the City of New Orleans. It is about 11 miles west of downtown New Orleans and 16 miles west of the French Quarter. The airport has won several awards, including Best Airport in North America for three consecutive years (2021, 2022, and 2023) by Airports Council International. Another airport in New Orleans is the New Orleans Lakefront Airport, which serves as a transportation hub and also preserves the city's aviation history.

Airports in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States:

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

MSY is the primary commercial airport serving the New Orleans metropolitan area and southeast Louisiana. It offers non-stop flights to around 60 destinations, including international locations in Europe, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The airport covers 1,500 acres (607 hectares) of land and features two runways and two helipads. At just 4.5 feet (1.4 m) above sea level, it is the third lowest-lying international airport in the world.

The airport has a single terminal with three concourses (A, B, and C) and a total of 35 gates. The terminal has three levels, with departures and ticketing on Level 3, TSA security screening on Level 2, and arrivals and baggage claim on Level 1. International flights are processed through Concourse A, which contains the airport's customs facilities. A variety of shops and restaurants are available at the airport, offering both local and national options for passengers.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has received numerous accolades, including being named the "Best Airport in North America" for three consecutive years (2021, 2022, and 2023) by Airports Council International's World Airport Service Quality survey program. It also ranked as the best large airport in North America by J.D. Power in 2021 and was recognised for its food and beverage, as well as retail offerings.

MSY's history of awards

The primary airport serving New Orleans, Louisiana, is the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). The airport has received numerous awards and nominations over the years, including several for best airport in North America.

In 2021, MSY was ranked as the best large airport in North America by J.D. Power. The airport was also ranked #1 in Food & Beverage and Retail by J.D. Power. That same year, MSY was one of 12 airports globally and one of four in North America to receive the ATRS Global Airport Efficiency Award. The award was based on the 2019 financial year data and was obtained following a year-long research effort by the ATRS Global Airport Benchmarking Task Force.

In 2023, MSY was named Best Airport in North America (5 to 15 million passengers per year) by the Airports Council International World’s Airport Service Quality program. This award was given to MSY three years in a row (2021, 2022, and 2023). The ASQ awards highlight the world’s best airports as judged by their customers who are surveyed while they are in the airport. The ASQ Departures program measures passengers’ satisfaction across 34 key performance indicators, including security wait times, value for money of parking facilities, helpfulness of airport staff, business and executive lounges, restroom cleanliness, terminal cleanliness, parking facilities, Wi-Fi access, and ambience of the airport.

In 2024, MSY was nominated for three awards in USA Today’s 10Best Readers' Choice Awards: Best Airport for Dining, Best Airport Bar for Bar Sazerac, and Best Airport Sit-Down Restaurant for MoPho.

MSY's facilities

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (IATA: MSY, ICAO: KMSY, FAA LID: MSY) is an international airport under Class B airspace in the City of Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is owned by the City of New Orleans and is located 11 miles (18 km) west of downtown New Orleans.

MSY covers 1,500 acres (607 ha) of land and contains two runways and two helipads. At an average of 4.5 feet (1.4 m) above sea level, MSY is the third lowest-lying international airport in the world. The airport has a single terminal with three concourses labelled A, B, and C, and a total of 35 gates. Departures and ticketing are on Level 3, TSA security screening is on Level 2, and arrivals and baggage claim are on Level 1. International flights are processed in Concourse A, which contains the airport's customs facilities. The terminal is served by I-10, and a rental car facility can be found on the south side of the airfield next to the former terminal.

MSY provides a passenger-friendly environment that welcomes millions of travellers each year from around the world. It was named Best Airport in North America three years in a row (2021, 2022, and 2023) by Airports Council International World’s Airport Service Quality survey program. The airport also ranked as the best large airport in North America by J.D. Power, 2021, and #1 in Food & Beverage and Retail.

MSY offers a range of shopping and dining options for travellers, including Leah’s Kitchen, The Club MSY, Fleurty Girl, and Bar Sazerac. The airport also features live music performances by local musicians, reflecting the spirit of New Orleans.

MSY's location

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is located in the City of Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is owned by the City of New Orleans and is situated 11 miles (18 km) west of downtown New Orleans. A small portion of Runway 11/29 is in unincorporated St. Charles Parish.

MSY is easily accessible by road, with the airport linked to Interstate 10. The airport is served by bus services, including the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority Airport Express Route 202 and Jefferson Transit bus E-2, which provide connections to downtown New Orleans and the Central Business District. The airport is also accessible by shuttle services, which operate to and from various hotels and hostels in the city.

MSY covers 1,500 acres (607 ha) of land and consists of two runways and two helipads. The airport has a single terminal, which opened in November 2019, with three concourses labelled A, B, and C, and a total of 35 gates. The terminal is designed by Argentine-American architect Cesar Pelli and features a curbside drop-off area and parking lots directly in front.

MSY is the primary commercial airport serving the New Orleans metropolitan area and southeast Louisiana. It offers nonstop service to approximately sixty destinations, including international flights to Europe, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The airport has been recognised for its excellence, receiving awards for the Best Airport in North America and ranking highly in customer satisfaction surveys.

New Orleans Lakefront Airport

Initially serving as the airline airport for the New Orleans area, the Lakefront Airport ceded this role to the Moisant International Airport (now Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport) in 1946. The Lakefront Airport continues to function as a general aviation airport, accommodating charter, private, and occasional military flights. The airport also offers airline services to destinations in the Gulf South Region.

The Lakefront Airport boasts a rich history, with its construction commencing in 1929 under the direction of Huey Long. The airport was originally named Shushan Airport after Levee Board president and Long ally, Abraham Shushan. However, the airport's name was changed to New Orleans Airport in 1939 due to Shushan's involvement in the Louisiana Scandals of the late 1930s. During World War II, the airfield was utilised by the United States Army Air Forces, and it played a role in the Tropical Weather School in 1945.

The Lakefront Airport's terminal building is a testament to its historical significance. The interior retains the lavish 1930s Art Deco style, and the exterior showcases the restored Art Deco design that had been obscured for decades by a "bomb-proof" facade installed post-World War II. The airport covers 473 acres (191 hectares) of land and sits at an elevation of 7 feet (2 metres).

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