New Orleans Int'l Airport Reaching Pre-Katrina Passenger Levels

In a recent article published by S. C. Hunter, Director of Aviation at the New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport, it was stated that air traffic levels are creeping slowly but surely back to Pre-Katrina levels.  At the moment, air operations are at approximately 80 percent of the Pre-Katrina levels.  This number, however, is expected to rise through the end of this year and in 2009.  One of the greatest reasons for the return of air traffic is conventions.  Conventions are vital to the survival of New Orleans and, respectively, the Armstrong International airport.  The Starbucks Leadership Conference, scheduled for this fall, will bring an estimated 12,000 people to the Crescent City.  The airlines that serve the Armstrong International Airport have been very willing to add extra seats on their routes to and from the city for conventions.  Officials are "optimistic about the growth and rebound of the convention/leisure traveler in our market," but are "curiously optimistic about air service return given the current volatile nature of the aviation industry."