Ruth Haines
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, originally known as the Moisant International Airport, was dedicated on November 11, 1959, and officially opened to air traffic the following weekend. The airport was renamed New Orleans International Airport in 1961 and finally became the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in 2001 to coincide with the 100th birthday of the New Orleans music legend. The original terminal was replaced in 2019, 60 years after it first opened.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original Name | Moisant International Airport |
| Original Name Change | 1961 |
| Original Terminal Dedicated | November 11, 1959 |
| Original Terminal Cost | $7.5 million |
| Original Terminal Opened | November 1959 |
| Original Terminal Replacement | November 2019 |
| Original Terminal Designer | Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse with Herbert A. Benson and George J. Riehl |
| Original Terminal Builder | J.A. Jones Construction Company |
| Current Name | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport |
| Current Name Change | 2001 |
| Current Terminal Cost | $1.3 billion |
| Current Terminal Size | 927,000 square feet |
| Current Terminal Designer | Pelli Clarkk & Partners, LEO DAILY, Atkins |
| Current Terminal Builder | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
The original terminal was dedicated on November 11, 1959
The original terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport was dedicated on November 11, 1959. The airport was known as Moisant International Airport until 1961, when its name was officially changed to New Orleans International Airport. The original terminal was built at a cost of $7.5 million and was designed by the New Orleans architectural firms of Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse, and Benson and Riehl. It was constructed by the J.A. Jones Construction Company.
The dedication ceremony on November 11, 1959, included remarks from New Orleans Mayor deLesseps "Chep" Morrison, Jefferson Parish President Charles W. Spencer, and Kenner Mayor Joseph Maggiore. The terminal did not officially open to air traffic until the weekend after the dedication.
The original terminal replaced the original Moisant Field, which had been in operation since the 1940s. By 1948, two years after its opening, Moisant Field was the largest commercial airport in the country, with a field of 1,360 acres and a 30,000 square-foot administration building that served 2,500 passengers daily. By 1958, the airport was servicing more than 600,000 passengers and handling more than 3,000 tons of cargo annually.
The new terminal was ten times bigger than the original facility. It was a three-level structure made of concrete, steel, and glass. The new terminal featured hundreds of parking spaces, addressing the parking challenges that had plagued the original airport.
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The airport was known as Moisant International Airport until 1961
The airport now known as the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport was originally called the Moisant International Airport. The original terminal was dedicated on November 11, 1959, and replaced the original Moisant Field, which had been in operation since the 1940s.
Moisant Air Field was originally a cow pasture and stockyard. By 1948, two years after its opening, Moisant was the largest commercial airport in the country, with a field of 1,360 acres and a 30,000 square-foot administration building that served 2,500 passengers daily. By 1958, Moisant serviced more than 600,000 passengers and handled more than 3,000 tons of cargo.
The new terminal, built at a cost of $7.5 million, was ten times bigger than the original facility. The three-level, concrete, steel, and glass structure was designed by the New Orleans architectural firms of Goldstein, Parham, and Labouisse, and Benson and Riehl. It was built by the J.A. Jones Construction Company.
In 1961, Moisant's name was officially changed to New Orleans International Airport. It saw major expansions in 1974 and 1996.
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The airport's new terminal cost $1.3 billion
The new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport cost $1.3 billion. The terminal opened on Wednesday, 6 November 2019, nearly 60 years after the original terminal was dedicated.
The original Moisant International Airport terminal (as the airport was known until 1961) was built at a cost of $7.5 million. It was dedicated on 11 November 1959, though it didn't officially open to air traffic until the following weekend. By 1958, the airport serviced more than 600,000 passengers and handled more than 3,000 tons of cargo annually.
The new terminal is a 927,000-square-foot, light-filled space that takes inspiration from the geography of Louisiana's Delta region and the curves of the Mississippi River. It serves 16 airlines with 35 gates spread out across three concourses. The terminal features modern amenities, including several food and beverage outlets, pre- and post-security music venues, and a post-security pet relief area. It is also the third airport in the US to have a permanent gate-pass program, allowing non-ticketed passengers to enter the terminal to shop and dine.
The construction of the new terminal faced several challenges, including budgetary concerns and an expansion in the scope of the project. The expansion included a new international concourse, five additional gates, and 322,000 more square feet of space. The terminal was designed by Pelli Clarkk & Partners, LEO DAILY, and Atkins, with a unique structure combining structural steel beams and a radial grid of concrete columns to support the spherical roof design.
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The airport's new terminal opened in November 2019
The new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport opened in November 2019, nearly 60 years after the original terminal was dedicated. The original terminal, known as Moisant International Airport until 1961, was built at a cost of $7.5 million and dedicated on November 11, 1959. However, it didn't officially open to air traffic until the following weekend.
The new terminal, costing $1.3 billion, is a 927,000-square-foot, light-filled space that takes inspiration from the geography of Louisiana's Delta region and the curves of the Mississippi River. It serves 16 airlines with 35 gates spread across three concourses, offering a range of modern amenities for passengers. These include 40 food, beverage, and retail outlets, pre- and post-security music venues, and dedicated spaces for nursing mothers and pets. The terminal also features a Delta Sky Club that showcases artwork from New Orleans.
The new terminal replaced the original circa-1959 terminal, which had undergone expansions in 1974 and 1996. The old terminal, built during the Jet Age, was in operation for more than 60 years before its closure in November 2019. The new terminal was designed to meet the changing expectations of travellers and to address their evolving needs for convenience and safety.
The construction of the new terminal faced several challenges, including contractor controversies and missed deadlines. However, the final result was well-received, with the new MSY winning praise from passengers and pundits. The ultramodern design by César Pelli creates an international gateway that showcases the spirit of New Orleans.
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The airport was renamed in 2001 to coincide with Louis Armstrong's 100th birthday
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport was renamed in 2001 to commemorate the 100th birthday of the renowned New Orleans musician, Louis Armstrong. This renaming occurred 60 years after the original terminal, then known as Moisant International Airport, was dedicated on November 11, 1959. The airport has undergone several expansions and renovations over the years, including major expansions in 1974 and 1996, and the opening of a new $1.3 billion terminal in 2019.
The history of the airport dates back to the 1930s when the City of New Orleans recognised the need for a larger airport to meet the growing aviation demands. Initially, the municipal airport on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain was considered for expansion, but the cost was deemed too high. The city worked with the Civil Aviation Authority (now the Federal Aviation Administration) to establish a new airport. However, with the United States' entry into World War II in 1941, the federal government took over the land for use as an airbase.
After the war, in 1946, the federal government returned the land to the City of New Orleans, and construction began on what would become the Moisant International Airport. The airport officially opened in 1959, boasting a field of 1,360 acres and a 30,000 square-foot administration building. By 1958, the airport was thriving, serving over 600,000 passengers and handling more than 3,000 tons of cargo annually.
In 1961, the airport's name was changed to New Orleans International Airport, shedding its previous namesake, the aviator John Moisant, who had perished in a crash at the site in 1910. The airport continued to expand and develop, with significant expansions occurring in 1974 and 1996, increasing the number of gates and enhancing its facilities.
Finally, in 2001, the airport was renamed Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to honour the renowned musician's 100th birthday. This renaming served as a tribute to the cultural significance of Louis Armstrong, ensuring that his legacy would be forever linked to the city of New Orleans.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport was built in 1959 and was known as the Moisant International Airport until 1961.
The original terminal was built at a cost of \$7.5 million.
The airport was previously known as the New Orleans International Airport.
The airport was renamed in 2001 to coincide with the 100th birthday of the New Orleans music legend.
The new \$1.3 billion terminal was opened in November 2019.
