World-class airport for a world-class city

Abstract

New Orleans is one of the most interesting cities in America. It has received accolades for its centuriesold architecture, celebrated cuisine, parade pageantry and sounds of cool jazz. But New Orleans today is much more than that. As a community, it is a unique city of neighbourhoods with their own distinct character and flavour. It is the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. According to the 2010 US Census, its population was 343,829 and it continues to grow today as more and more visitors decide to become residents. New Orleans is charting a new and different course as a leading centre for culture and commerce, attracting high-tech jobs while becoming a hub for entrepreneurship. The city is blending the past with the present and the recent modernisation of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is a fine example. The New Orleans Aviation Board (NOAB), the governing body of MSY, has recently invested over US$300 million to modernise the airport through remodelling and new construction. The NOAB is now soaring towards the future with a Long-term Infrastructure Development Plan that includes the design and construction of a world-class airport by 2018.