Did you know that in the 40's, Moisant Airport (now known as Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport) was THE largest airport in the US? It was a major hub for the airlines at the time. It was the gateway to South America etc..

here is a little write up from our site www.flymsy.com
In the mid 1930's, it became apparent to the city of New Orleans that the municipal airport located on the lakefront was no longer large enough to service the city's growing air transportation needs. Expansion of the lakefront facilities was considered too costly. An Aviation Division of the Department of Public Property of the City of New Orleans was then formed to coordinate with the Civil Aviation Authority (now the FAA) to establish a New Orleans Airport.

The Aviation Division at that time was headed by Douglas O. Langstaff - an aviation enthusiast. Langstaff recognized the need to obtain a surplus of land to formulate what he thought would be needed for future expansion plans of any new airport. This, along with the regulations of the CAA stipulating that the distance of an airport from a city center should be a minimum of six miles, resulted in the selection of Kenner as the site for a new airport. The proposed new airport was named for John Moisant, an early aviation pioneer, in 1940. The Kenner site was approved by the City and 648 acres was purchased.

However, before any construction began, the United States became involved in World War II in December, 1941. The land for Moisant Field was taken over by the U.S. Government for use as an air base. Facilities were constructed on this land by the Federal Government and were used by the Army until the end of the war in August 1945. In 1946, the Federal Government returned the land plus 295 adjacent acres to the City of New Orleans.

In May, 1946, a commercial air service began at Moisant Field. By January, 1947, the airport was considered to be one of the largest commercial airports in the nation encompassing 1360 acres of land and included three 5000 foot runways and one 7000 foot runway. In addition, it was the first airport to install an Instrument Landing System. In 1959, a new terminal and two new concourses were dedicated. The official name of the airport was changed in 1960 from Moisant Field to New Orleans International Airport.

The first major expansion occurred in 1974 with the addition of two new concourses at the east end of the main terminal. This brought the total number of gates to 42. In addition, the gates of the original west concourse were modified to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft, and an upper level parking lot was constructed. In 1979, the west concourse was extensively renovated.

The New Orleans International Airport is in the midst of a $850 million Capital Facilities Improvement Program. Major projects that have been undertaken at the airport are a 3000 car parking garage, the extension of the east/west runway, remodeling of the Federal Inspection Facilities Center, renovation and expansion of Concourses C & D, and a new FAA Air Traffic Control Tower.

The Airport is governed by the New Orleans Aviation Board, which was created in 1943 to oversee the administration, operation, and maintenance of the new airport. The Board represents the City in all aviation matters in consultation with state, national, and international government agencies. It is an attached board under the executive branch of the New Orleans City Government.

The Board was originally composed of five members. This was increased to nine members in 1972. All members of the Board are appointed by the Mayor of New Orleans with the approval of the City Council. The terms are for five years and they serve without compensation. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected annually by the other Board members.

The Director of Aviation is appointed by the Aviation Board. He is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Airport.

Would you like to see some old photos of the airport and Louis Armstrong? Click here to go to the New Orleans Public Library Site featuring pictures of the airport and the city.


Now, we are the 58th largest (or something like that). IAH and ATL have majorly surpassed us. Once again, the New Orleans politics got in the way. They never did anything to improve on the airport and stay in the lead. So sad.

The airport is nothing but a political play toy for the mayor of NO. He uses it to give out contracts to his buddies etc. Johnie Cochran's wife owns the 2 largest gift shops in the mall (under her maiden name) and she is DBE certified! ok, that is off subject.

I think this airport could really grow and become a large hub if the mayor would just give up a little power to the city of Kenner and parish of Jefferson (where it is located)

what does MSY stand for?

If it's New Orleans International Airport, why in the world do the luggage tags say MSY?

Old-timers shrug. They know the "M" on this one: The airport was named after John Bevins Moisant. But reports differ on the life and death of this pioneer pilot who was born in Kankakee, Ill., and grew up in Chicago, San Francisco and Central America.

In the last five months of 1910 just seven years after Wilbur and Orville Wright's first flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., Moisant gained worldwide fame as daredevil aviator. According to a 1985 Smithsonian Magazine article, Moisant flew the first passenger across the city of Paris (the passenger was a more experience French pilot, who shouted directions to the brash American); he piloted the first flight of 230 miles from Paris to London; and he buzzed his plane around the Statue of Liberty in New York after winning a race there.

He and other aviators--tagged the "birdmen" by the international press--gave air shows in Richmond, VA., Chattanooga and Memphis, Tenn.; Tupelo, Miss., and New Orleans.

The late December air show in New Orleans included several competitions. In one account, Moisant raced his pane against an automobile--and lost. The main event, though, was the Michelin cup, which promised a $4,000 prize to the pilot who stayed in the air the longest.

According to Smithsonian Magazine, accompanied by Paris-London, a tabby kitten he had been given in England, took off from City Park. As usual, the adventurous pilot had not used his seat belt. A few minutes later, 30 to 40 feet off the ground, the plane hit turbulence as he tried to land in a practice field at Harahan Plantation, a few miles from the current site of the airport.

Moisant, 37, broke his neck and died shortly afterward on a train rushing him into the city, according to The Times-Democrat newspaper of Jan. 1, 1911. Hew was buried in Metairie Cemetery.

Several articles say that Moisant broke a world record by flying over New Orleans for 46 minutes and 10 seconds.

The Smithsonian reports the crash occurred the day of the Michelin competition. Perhaps the explanation is that Moisant flew 46 minutes and 10 seconds before the crash.

Regardless of the specific details of the competition, his death in New Orleans caused such profound reactions that in 1941 Mayor Robert Maestri announced that the new Kenner airport would be name for Moisant. In 1949 it was the third busiest airport in the country, after Miami and New York. It was renamed New Orleans International Airport in 1962, but the MSY remained.

As for the SY, the late New Orleans historian Leonard Humber reported that it stands for stockyards, because the airport once was a pasture for cows. An airport spokeswoman said she too believes that is the explanation.

MSY - Moisant Stock Yards. So now you know. From the Times Picayune, April 9, 2000

Originally posted by Geoffrey
Did you know that in the 40's, Moisant Airport (now known as Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport) was THE largest airport in the US? It was a major hub for the airlines at the time. It was the gateway to South America etc..

here is a little write up from our site www.flymsy.com



Now, we are the 58th largest (or something like that). IAH and ATL have majorly surpassed us. Once again, the New Orleans politics got in the way. They never did anything to improve on the airport and stay in the lead. So sad.

The airport is nothing but a political play toy for the mayor of NO. He uses it to give out contracts to his buddies etc. Johnie Cochran's wife owns the 2 largest gift shops in the mall (under her maiden name) and she is DBE certified! ok, that is off subject.

I think this airport could really grow and become a large hub if the mayor would just give up a little power to the city of Kenner and parish of Jefferson (where it is located)


Hartsfield Atlanta airport is precious little different... The mayor and city council use it as a political play toy as well, supporting past administrations via overinflated improvement contracts, etc... Everytime you turn around somebody in Atlanta government is at least under investigation for corruption relating to management of Hartsfield.

Well....things could be worse. You could be here in San Diego and have to fly out of Lindbergh Field (San Diego Int. Airport). The busiest single-runway (that's right, I said single) commerical airport in North America. With the downtown bayfront location and lots of nearby houses, there is a nightime 11:30P-5:30A curfew during which all flight operations are suspended.

As with New Orleans, politics have thus far prevented any sort of solution to easing the bottleneck by relocating the airport. While the city and country pissed and argued, the Navy left Miramar and the Marines moved in from El Toro. Now, the politicos want to work out a deal with Tijuana to build a new international terminal across the border in Mexico. Go figure....

- Andy

I remember watching the planes land and take off while I was on fire watch at MCRD. Made the time pass easier.