Jazmin Li
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (IATA: MSY, ICAO: KMSY, FAA LID: MSY) is an international airport in the City of Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. The airport is owned by the City of New Orleans and is located 11 miles (18 km) west of downtown New Orleans. The airport's original terminal was built in 1959 and was known as Moisant International Airport until 1961. In 2019, a new \$1.3 billion terminal opened, replacing the original terminal. The new terminal serves 16 airlines with 35 gates spread across three concourses and offers various amenities, including dining, shopping, and live music.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport |
| IATA | MSY |
| ICAO | KMSY |
| FAA LID | MSY |
| Location | Kenner, Louisiana, United States |
| Distance from New Orleans downtown | 11 miles (18 km) |
| Year of construction | 1959 |
| Year of renovation | 2019 |
| Area | 1,500 acres (607 ha) |
| Number of runways | 2 |
| Number of helipads | 2 |
| Elevation | 4.5 feet (1.4 m) above sea level |
| Number of concourses | 3 |
| Number of gates | 35 |
| Number of food, beverage, and retail outlets | 40 |
| Number of rooms for nursing mothers | 3 |
| Cost of construction | $1.3 billion |
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What You'll Learn
The airport's original terminal was built in 1959
The original terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport was built in 1959. The airport was known as Moisant International Airport at the time, and the terminal was dedicated on November 11, 1959, although it did not open to air traffic until the following weekend. The terminal was built at a cost of $7.5 million and was designed by the New Orleans architectural firms Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse, and Benson and Riehl. It was constructed by the J.A. Jones Construction Company.
The 1959 terminal was a significant upgrade from the previous facility, which was housed in a large, makeshift hangar-like building. The new terminal was a three-level structure made of concrete, steel, and glass. It was ten times bigger than the original facility, with a design that included a wide ramp leading to the second level, providing a direct route to the main floor. The terminal featured an administration building with an abstract panel adorning the lobby, which can still be seen on the terminal ticket.
By the time the 1959 terminal was built, Moisant International Airport was experiencing rapid growth. By 1958, the airport was handling over 600,000 passengers and 3,000 tons of cargo annually. The new terminal was designed to accommodate this increasing demand, with a parking lot that nearly tripled the number of spaces, addressing the issue of insufficient parking that had plagued the airport previously.
In the following decades, the airport continued to expand and undergo improvements. In the mid-1970s, the main terminal ticketing area was lengthened, an airport access road was constructed, and Concourses A and B were added. The original 1959 concourses were renamed Concourse C and Concourse D, with the latter receiving a four-gate addition to accommodate widebody aircraft.
By 2011, the 1959 terminal was due for an update, as airport officials recognised the need for a world-class main terminal that met travellers' changing expectations for convenience and safety. This led to the construction of a new terminal, which opened in late 2019, offering modern amenities and a design inspired by the culture and geography of New Orleans.
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The airport was renamed in 1961
The new terminal, which opened in 1959, was ten times bigger than the original facility. The building was designed by New Orleans architectural firms Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse, and Benson and Riehl, and was constructed by the J.A. Jones Construction Company. The terminal cost $7.5 million to build and was almost triple the size of the previous facility, with a large football field-sized lobby.
In 1961, when the airport was renamed New Orleans International Airport, the original name of Moisant International Airport was dropped. However, the airport code MSY was retained, derived from Moisant Stock Yards.
In 2001, the airport was renamed once more to honour the 100th anniversary of Louis Armstrong's birth. The new name, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, is a tribute to the jazz musician and New Orleans native.
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A new terminal opened in 2019
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport opened a new terminal in 2019, nearly 60 years after the original terminal was built. The new terminal, which cost $1.3 billion to construct, is part of a $1.029 billion capital program to replace the existing facility. The new terminal features a modern design inspired by the geography of Louisiana's Delta region and the curves of the Mississippi River. It offers a range of amenities, including dining options that showcase local cuisine, live music, shopping, and improved security and wayfinding.
The original terminal, built in 1959, was known as the Moisant International Airport terminal. By 1958, the airport serviced more than 600,000 passengers and handled over 3,000 tons of cargo. However, by 2011, airport officials recognised the need for a new terminal to address travellers' evolving expectations for convenience and safety. The new terminal took six years to develop and offers a significantly improved experience for passengers.
The new terminal covers 927,000 square feet and features three concourses with 35 gates serving 16 airlines. It includes a range of modern amenities, such as nursing rooms, a pet relief area, and a Delta Sky Club lounge with artwork celebrating New Orleans. The design of the terminal was a collaboration between Pelli Clarkk & Partners, LEO DAILY, Atkins, and a joint venture of architectural firms. The unique structure incorporates a hybrid of structural steel beams and a radial grid of concrete columns to support the spherical roof design.
The new terminal at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport not only provides a modern and efficient travel experience but also captures the spirit of New Orleans. Passengers can enjoy local flavours and music, such as Creole cuisine and jazz performances. The terminal's design, inspired by the Mississippi River, adds to the sense of place. The airport's director of aviation, Kevin Dolliole, emphasised the introduction of a permanent gate-pass program, allowing non-ticketed passengers to access the terminal for shopping, dining, and accompanying travellers.
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The airport was previously called Moisant Field
The airport now known as the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport was previously called Moisant Field. The facility was originally a cow pasture and stockyard and was named after daredevil aviator John Moisant, who died in 1910 when his plane crashed on the site where the airport stands today.
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 serving more than 600,000 passengers and handling more than 3,000 tons of cargo annually.
In 1959, a new terminal complex was built, and the airport's name was changed to Moisant International Airport. This new terminal was ten times bigger than the original facility and featured a three-level, concrete, steel, and glass structure. It was designed by New Orleans architectural firms Goldstein, Parham, and Labouisse, and Benson and Riehl, and built by the J.A. Jones Construction Company. The terminal cost $7.5 million to build and was dedicated on November 11, 1959, though it did not officially open to air traffic until the following weekend.
In 1961, the airport's name was changed again to New Orleans International Airport. It was not until 2001 that the airport was renamed Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to honour the 100th anniversary of the jazz musician's birth.
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The airport is named after Louis Armstrong
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, formerly known as Moisant International Airport, was renamed in 2001 to honour the 100th anniversary of Louis Armstrong's birth. Armstrong, a legendary jazz musician and singer, was born in New Orleans and became one of the most influential figures in jazz history.
The airport, located in the city of Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, is approximately 11 miles (18 km) west of downtown New Orleans. It is the primary commercial airport serving the New Orleans metropolitan area and southeast Louisiana. The airport has direct flights to around 56 domestic and 6 international destinations, including Europe, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The original terminal, built in 1959, underwent a major transformation in 2019 with the opening of a new $1.3 billion terminal. The new terminal, with its curved design inspired by the Mississippi River, offers a range of modern amenities, dining options, and live music, capturing the spirit and culture of New Orleans.
The airport's former name, Moisant Field, honoured daredevil aviator John Moisant, who tragically died in 1910 in an airplane crash on the agricultural land where the airport now stands. The IATA code MSY is a remnant of the airport's past, derived from Moisant Stock Yards.
The new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport not only provides a world-class travel experience but also pays tribute to the rich history and cultural significance of the city it serves.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport was built in 1959.
The original terminal, then known as the Moisant International Airport, was built at a cost of $7.5 million.
The new terminal was opened on November 6, 2019.
The new terminal cost $1.3 billion to build.
