NEW ORLEANS AIRPORT | LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANS AIRPORT (MSY) (MSY) INFORMATION

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (Aéroport international Louis Armstrong de La Nouvelle-Orléans in French) is located in Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana and it serves the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. The airport is the second lowest-lying international airport in the world at 1.4 m/4.5 ft above sea level. The only airport that is lower-lying is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands at 3.4 m/11 ft below sea level.

The airport’s IATA code is MSY and the ICAO code is KMSY. The airport is a public airport owned by the City of New Orleans and it is operated by New Orleans Aviation Board.

The planning for MSY began in 1940 to replace the older Shushan Airport (or New Orleans Lakefront Airport) that had become too small. The airport was originally named Moisant Field after John Moisant, a daredevil aviator who had died back in 1910 when crashing an airplane, on the grounds the airport is located on. The IATA code MSY derives from Moisant Stock Yards.

During WWII it became a government airbase, but it was returned to civil control in 1946.

A terminal opened in 1959 and at this point the name had changed to Moisant International Airport, and in 1961 it was changed to New Orleans International Airport. The name was changed to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in July of 2001, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Louis Armstrong’s birth (August 4th, 1901).

In 2005 the airport was affected by Hurricane Katrina and flights began to resume a couple of weeks after the hurricane havocked New Orleans. It took approximately 5-6 months for the first of the airlines that operated at the airport to get back to the pre-hurricane flight frequency and it took a year to reach pre-hurricane seat capacity levels. During some time all international flights were suspended.

In 2019 a new single terminal with three concourses and 35 gates was opened. The old terminal that was built in 1959 closed and today it still houses the airport’s administration offices and it has been used as a TV and film production venue as well as a temporary skate park.

The new terminal is divided into three levels with Arrivals and Baggage Claim on level 1, Security Screening on level 2, and Departures and Ticketing on level 3.

Concourse A processes the international flights and holds the airport’s customs facilities. It has 6 gates. Concourse B has 14 gates, and Concourse C has 15 gates.

The airport has two runways, one with a concrete surface and one with an asphalt/concrete surface. The concrete surface is 7,001 ft/2,134 m long and the asphalt/concrete runway is 10,104 ft/3,080 m long.

The airport saw 5,289,538 passenger movements in 2020, a decrease from 2019’s almost 14,000,000 passenger movements due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Arrivals, Departures and Airlines at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

• See live flight arrivals information at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
• See live flight departures information at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
• See all airlines and routes that serve Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

Transfers at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

The transfer options at MSY Airport include rental cars, public transportation buses, taxis, airport shuttles and more.

Rental Cars – All rental car companies at New Orleans Airport are located in a dedicated Consolidated Car Rental Center located 15-20 minutes with the MSY Car Rental Shuttle service available for convenient transfer between the facilities. Shuttles depart approximately every 5 minutes from the Ground Transportation Area outside the Long Term Parking Garage located next to the terminal building.

Buses – The airport bus stop is located outside the Ticketing Lobby on the outer curb. Two routes depart throughout each day provided by JET and RTA individually. JET provides route Veterans (E1) and RTA provides the route Airport Express (202). Fare is $2 for the JET bus and $1.50 for RTA. More information about buses at New Orleans Airport.

Taxis – The taxi rank is located on the Arrivals Curb outside the Baggage Claim area. More details about taxis to and from New Orleans Airport.

Airport Shuttles – A walk-up airport shuttle service is provided at the airport. Tickets are purchased at the ticket booth located in between Doors 3 and 4 in the Baggage Claim area. Tickets are priced at $24 per person including up to three bags for a one way trip and $44 for a return trip.

Hotel Shuttles – Shuttle transfers provided by various hotels collect their guests in the Ground Transportation Center outside Doors 1 through 5, Baggage Claim. Need to book a hotel? See a selection of hotels in New Orleans.

Ride Shares – Ride App companies collect their customers on the middle curb outside the Baggage Claim, exit through doors 7-11.

Parking at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

The airport offers four options of parking: Short Term Parking Garage, Long Term Parking Garage, Surface Lot and Economy Garage. The first three are located adjacent to the terminal building while the Economy option is remotely located with a shuttle transfer service provided by MSY. More information about parking at New Orleans Airport.

Amenities and Services at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

WiFi – Free WiFi up to 5MPS of data is provided by the airport via Boingo. Additional data can be purchased. The free WiFi network is named “#MSY-FI

Pet Relief Areas at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

There are two Pet Relief areas for traveling pets and service animals. One is located between the Short Term Parking Garage and the terminal on the terminal’s level 1. The other is located post-security near Shake Shack.

Police Station at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

An Airport Police Station can be found on level 2 near Leah’s Kitchen, pre-security.

Wheelchair Assistance at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

Travelers in need of wheelchair assistance during their time at the airport have to request this through their airline. Most airlines require that they have the request at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled flight departure.

ATMs at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

There are ATMs/cash machines located throughout the airport terminal.

Lost and Found Office at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

The airport’s Lost and Found Office is located near Bag Belt 6 in the Baggage Claim area, on Arrivals level. It is open on weekdays from 8 AM until 5 PM. For items lost during the TSA Security Screening contact TSA directly. For items lost on the airplane or during boarding, please contact the airline directly.

Food, Beverage and Shopping at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

There are few retail or food establishments, if any, available on landside, but there are plenty on airside once through the security control. There are vending machines available in the arrivals area.

Tax-Free Shopping for International Travelers at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

Most shops at the airport have tax free shopping, as do selected businesses in the city of New Orleans. It applies to those who can show an international travel ticket, a foreign passport and who will be in the country for less than 90 days. Further information as well as refunds can be obtained at the Tax Free Counter that is located at the checkpoint exit near Leah’s Kitchen on Level 2.

See all the shops (including duty-free) at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

Closest International Airport to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

The closest international airport to MSY is IAH, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, located 346 mi/557 km away.

Things to do in New Orleans

There are a number of activities to suit all ages and interests in the region - see a selection of tourist activities in New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States of America.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) Contacts

Address: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, 1 Terminal Dr, Kenner, LA 70062, United States
General Phone: +1 504 303-7500
Lost and Found Phone: +1 504 303-7790
Official Website: https://flymsy.com/

Local Information

Drive on: Right
Electricity: 120V/60Hz
Plug: A, B
Currency: USD, $, Dollar