Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

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Kenner, LA · MSY

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Recent News

Updated Mar 1, 2026
Louis Armstrong Airport named Best in North America for fifth consecutive year

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport received the Best Airport at Departures in North America award (5-15 million passengers) for the fifth year in a row in 2025. MSY was also inducted into the ACI World Director General's Roll of Excellence, joining only 8 airports worldwide with this distinction.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Express Shuttle Connector Road Phase One to complete by end of 2026

Construction is underway on MSY's Express Shuttle Connector Road, with Phase One expected to complete by the end of 2026, allowing shuttles to skip traffic lights on Veterans Boulevard. When fully completed in 2027, the dedicated roadway will cut shuttle times nearly in half from 14-18 minutes to 7-10 minutes.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
$45 TSA ConfirmID fee begins February 1 for travelers without acceptable ID

Starting February 1, 2026, travelers aged 18 and older arriving at MSY without a Real ID or acceptable identification face a $45 TSA ConfirmID fee. The new process applies to those unable to present proper identification at security checkpoints.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
TSA PreCheck Touchless ID technology coming to MSY by spring 2026

New Orleans' Louis Armstrong International Airport is scheduled to receive TSA PreCheck Touchless ID technology by spring 2026. The biometric facial recognition system will enhance security screening efficiency for eligible travelers.

Men's Journal·Jan 10, 2026

Airport Profile

Governing EntityCity of New Orleans, New Orleans Aviation Board
Entity TypeCity Board
Fiscal Year EndDecember
Bond TypeGARB
Rate MethodologyHybrid Compensatory
AUA StatusActive
Moody'sA2
FitchA

Key Financial Data (FY 2024)

CPE$8.15
Signatory Landing Fee$0.2600
Enplanements6,560,847
Total Operating Revenue$118.6M
Total Operating Expense$144.2M
Operating Income$-25.6M
Total Debt$1.2B
Rate Covenant1.25x
Unrestricted Cash$52.1M
Landed Weight (1000 lbs)7,992,677

Enplaned Passengers (T-100)

5.1M-21.0%

Cost per Enplanement (CPE)

$8.15-1.0%

Revenue

$118.6M+5.7%

Expense

$144.2M+4.4%

Ratemaking Overview

Overall MethodologyHybrid Compensatory
Ratesetting Typeagreement
Cost Center StructureAirfield Area Cost and Revenue Center, Apron Area Cost and Revenue Center, Terminal Building and Area Cost and Revenue Center
Revenue SharingCost center methodology allocates revenues by functional activity
Capital RecoveryDebt Service and Amortization

Settlement & True-Up

Annual settlement framework

Extraordinary Coverage Protection (ECP)

ECP TypeCoverage

Not available

Landing Fee Methodology

MethodologyResidual

Not available

Terminal Rental Rate

Not available

Common Use & Gate Allocation

Additional Bonds Test

Additional Bonds may be issued if either (a) Historical Test: sum of (I) Net Revenues and (II) 1/12 of Rollover Coverage for any 12 consecutive months out of 18 months preceding issuance equals at least 125% of aggregate Debt Service Fund Requirement on all Outstanding Bonds and proposed Additional Bonds for such 12-month period; OR (b) Prospective Test: Both (I) same historical test as (a) equals at least 125% of aggregate Debt Service Fund Requirement on Outstanding Bonds, AND (II) Net Revenues estimated by Aviation Consultant for 3 consecutive calendar years commencing with year following issuance (or end of construction period) equals at least 125% of Debt Service Fund Requirement for each of such 3 years on all Outstanding Bonds and proposed Additional Bonds. Series 2024C Bonds issued under Prospective Test.

Rate Covenant

Covenant Ratio1.25x

The Aviation Board covenants to impose and collect rates, fees, rentals, or other charges sufficient to produce: (1) Revenues in each Fiscal Year at least sufficient to pay (i) arbitrage rebate, (ii) all Operation and Maintenance Expenses, (iii) annual debt service on all Bonds, (iv) deposits to Debt Service Reserve Fund, (v) deposits to Improvement Account if required by Commercial Airline Leases, (vi) deposits to O&M Reserve Fund, (vii) Credit/Liquidity/Reserve Asset provider obligations, (viii) Subordinated Bonds principal and interest; and (2) Net Revenues (together with Rollover Coverage Account balance from prior Fiscal Year if required/permitted by Commercial Airline Leases) at least equal to 125% of Bond Debt Service Requirement for such Fiscal Year. Net PFC Revenues deposited into Transferred PFC Account are included in Net Revenues for Rate Covenant purposes.

Flow of Funds

All Revenues deposited daily into Airport Operating Fund. Monthly deposits (second Business Day before first Wednesday of each month) in priority order: (a) Arbitrage Rebate Fund; (b) Operation and Maintenance Expenses; (c) Debt Service Fund (monthly 1/12 requirement); (d) Debt Service Reserve Fund (replenish to requirement); (e) Improvement Account (if required by Commercial Airline Leases); (f) O&M Reserve Fund (1/12th monthly until full, then 1/36th after withdrawals); (g) Credit/Liquidity/Reserve Asset provider obligations; then General Purposes Account (until General Purposes Account Requirement met); (h) Rollover Coverage Account (if required by Commercial Airline Leases), else to General Purposes Account.

1.Arbitrage Rebate Fund — Payment of arbitrage rebate sums due
2.Operation and Maintenance Expenses — Payment of all O&M expenses in normal course of business
3.Debt Service Fund — Monthly deposit of amount to equal Debt Service Fund Requirement as of first day of next month
4.Debt Service Reserve Fund — Monthly deposit to equal Funded DSRF Requirement; Provider reimbursement first pro-rata if Reserve Asset draw
5.Improvement Account — Amount required by Commercial Airline Leases or budget
6.Operation and Maintenance Reserve Fund — 1/12th monthly until O&M Reserve Requirement met; then 1/36th after withdrawal
7.Provider Obligations — Obligations due to Credit Facility/Liquidity Facility/Reserve Asset providers
8.General Purposes Account — Balance after above payments until General Purposes Account Requirement met; may be used for any lawful purpose including O&M, Bond purchase/payment, Capital Improvements
9.Rollover Coverage Account — After General Purposes Account Requirement met, if required by Commercial Airline Leases; else to General Purposes Account. Balance on last day of FY included in Net Revenues for Rate Covenant. Transferred to Airport Operating Account on first Business Day of next FY or per Commercial Airline Leases

Source Documents

Official Statements

MSY-2018-CFC-OS.pdf
MSY-2024ABC-OS.pdf

Financial Statements

MSY 2024 FS.pdf

Source: FAA CATS Form 5100-127, DOT T-100 Market Data, Airport Official Statements · Hub classification: FAA CY 2024 Enplanement Data · Prepared by DWU Consulting