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New Orleans Airport Pushes Opening Date for New Terminal Yet Again

April 11, 2019
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2 min read
NEW ORLEANS MSY-1Airport_Aerial_1cropped
New Orleans Airport Pushes Opening Date for New Terminal Yet Again
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The City of New Orleans and its aviation board announced Thursday that the opening of a new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) would be delayed until at least fall 2019.

In a news release Thursday, officials blamed the delay on the "complex coordination of construction activities during the final phase of this major project," but did not go into specific detail. The new terminal was previously slated to open to the public on May 15.

“The fact is: it is not ready, and there is more work to be done to get us there," New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said in the statement. "I fully support the additional time needed and look forward to opening our new, completely operational facility at its peak on Day One.”

The new terminal has been under construction for more than three years: Builders first broke ground in January of 2016. At this point, the project is about 95% complete, and construction costs have swelled to at least $1.029 billion.

"This is now an 18 month delay," Chris Sloan, managing editor at Airways Magazine, told TPG in an email. "The last delay from February was because of sewage issues but there's more to it than that now."

TPG reached out to New Orleans airport for more information but did not receive a response.

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Fortunately for flyers, there should be little impact to operations as flight schedules will continue as normal. But passengers will likely be disappointed as the old terminal and its four concourses certainly feel dated (the facility was originally built in 1959), and the new building will be state-of-the-art, with a modern design from architect Cesar Pelli that allows for more natural light and much larger security checkpoint area -- a must for an airport with growing passenger numbers like MSY. In 2018, the airport's total passengers was up 14% to 13,122,7621 flyers.

Rendering of New Orleans Airport new terminal. Image courtesy of New Orleans Aviation Board.

The new terminal will be about 972,000 square feet in size with 35 gates in three concourses that include more than 40 restaurants and stores. When it finally opens, all airport operations will switch from the old to the new terminal, which sits north of the current facility.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.