re: MSY is planning for a new terminal with 30 more gates

quote:

---

lthough maybe they remove Concourse A and build a new one that looks like Concourses B/C.

---

This makes the most sense to me. A is fairly barebones and useless

I think Breeze would likely expand.

I think a CDG direct similar to the London one is definitely in the cards.

I'd love maybe one other direct Euro giving us 3 would drastically change things for the airport.

2 more direct Caribs would be awesome as well, and maybe a direct to Montreal or the like.

The new MSY is awesome. I don’t get the complaints. Have you been in the last 5 years? What other airport experience is significantly better?

quote:

---

Would it be a separate standalone structure?

---

I believe the terminal was designed with ability to add fourth concourse to the east of concourse C. Think mirror image of concourse A. Not sure if that’s what they still have in mind or not.

quote:

---

My MS Paint rendition of the "expansion"

Blue - Concourse A
Red - Departures expansion (ticket counter, security)
Yellow - Arrivals expansion + additional gates (additional baggage claim areas, customs, curbside pickup)

Surface Lot next to departures would convert to a garage like long-term lot.

---

They should just move Atlantic and signature to where the old terminal is and build a replica of the new terminal right over them and connect the two together via the current concourse A. that would get you 2x ticket counter space, 2x baggage space, 2x TSA checkpoints, and another 30 gates. plus they could build appropriately sized parking structures as well.

quote:

---

They should just move Atlantic and signature to where the old terminal is and build a replica of the new terminal right over them and connect the two together via the current concourse A. that would get you 2x ticket counter space, 2x baggage space, 2x TSA checkpoints, and another 30 gates. plus they could build appropriately sized parking structures as well.

---

The Nola article implies tvis is the plan

Also what is now A was not in the original plans. It (along with wfat us currently long term garage) were added after construction started. Part of the reason for the delay in opening.

quote:

---

That demand exists on the LHR direct due, in large part, to Shell employees who aren't paying out of pocket.

---

Wouldn't mind a direct to AMS which would have the same benefit.

The Advocate confirmed that MSY thinks they may need 10-30 more gates to meet demand by 2030 based on their growth trends. Other aspects of the airport is arguably undersized to handle peak demand during the travel season (security, parking) already. Southwest is slowly moving to a more hybrid or full hub and spoke network and will be beefing up service at the places where they will establish full fledged hubs - looks like that may be MSY. That is a great thing for New Orleans and Louisiana.

Also - Little BTR needs at least one new gate with a jetway for their B concourse right now. They’ve needed this since American increased the number of rush hour flights in 2023. I’ve also have noticed fewer available parking spaces at BTR over the last several years and they’ve recorded an increase in traffic when most airports are seeing declines (I used to never have to park on the third level). That’s a great sign for that region’s economy too. The airport is trying to change their governance right now too.

A lot of cities are seeing a decline in service. Memphis, Cincy, St Louis, Kansas City, Cleveland, etc over sized for their current needs. Pittsburgh’s expensive airport modernization will reduce the total number of gates because they no longer need them.

And Louisiana has at least two airports that need more gates. It’s a good problem to have IMO. Maybe south Louisiana is doing a few little things correctly.

quote:

---

The new MSY is awesome. I don’t get the complaints. Have you been in the last 5 years? What other airport experience is significantly better?

---

I also like the new terminal. Especially now with the fly over connection it really is easy. I think the complaints are mostly New Orleans foolishness.

1. Multiple times we’ve landed and had to wait for a gate to open up. This happens far more often at msy than any other airport. General operation issue.

2. Checked luggage generally takes a loan time to get to baggage claim. General operation issue.

3. Parking capacity was grossly under built. Although thus far we’ve also been able to reserve a spot in short term and that’s awesome.

4. The pick passenger pick up area is the definition of a clogged artery. Just poorly built. Why did they condense it so much at one spot.

5. More than once, we’ve been told at one of the restaurants they aren’t sitting anymore people because of staff shortages. The restaurant is mostly empty (looking at you dook’s).

6. The lack of an on property shuttle to car rental and the old terminal parking was so lousy and lazy planning.

7. No luggage carts in or near the parking garages.

quote:

---

I think the complaints are mostly New Orleans foolishness.

---

Anything not run by the airlines is run by DEI contracts. Concession, janitorial, baggage inside terminal, shuttles.

As far as parking capacity, it’s just wild that what is long term garage was supposed to just be a parking lot.

People don’t want to use the economy garage or the private lot on veterans

quote:

---

The airport serves the greater region with close to 5 million people

---

Yes. You have to go pretty far east before you are closer to Jacksonville or Atlanta, compared to MSY