Landing in New Orleans (MSY)

This is a video of the landing in New Orleans, LA at Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY). The flight was on an American Airlines MD-80 and flew from Chicago O'hare International Airport (ORD). You can see a lot of Jefferson Parish and the lakefront.

The landing in New Orleans is one of the nicest landings out there.

Interested in following Airport Radar? Then Check Out this Utility!

While browsing on the New Orleans Int'l Airport website this morning, I found a very interesting utility called "Airport Monitor 2.0." Airport Monitor 2.0 is a real-time Airport Radar utility which can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection. It also has a retrospect mode, so radar can be viewed from previous dates and times. It is available for a number of airports including, LaGuardia, JFK, Newark, New Orleans, LAX, and San Diego. I will include a list of links below.

New Orleans Airport (MSY) Airport Monitor 2.0:

http://www4.passur.com/msy.html

JFK Airport:

http://www4.passur.com/jfk.html

LaGuardia Airport:

http://www4.passur.com/lga.html

Boston-Logan:

http://www4.passur.com/bos.html

LAX:

http://www4.passur.com/lax.html

Full List of Airports:

http://www.passur.com/airportmonitor-locations.htm

AeroMexico Comes to New Olreans Int'l, Promises More Routes

AeroMexico, a Skyteam alliance airline based out of Mexico City (MEX), announced that it will once again establish a daily nonstop service from Mexico City Int'l to New Orleans Armstrong Int'l (MSY), after arduous negotiations with the city of New Orleans. AeroMexico will use Embraer E-145's for the route, with possiblity for equipment upgrades if the route shows promise. This is vital to the economic growth of New Orleans, and is a sure sign of recovery of international commerce in New Orleans and its surrounding areas. AeroMexico will also begin to offer daily nonstop service from New Orleans to Honduras, beginning July 7. According to WDSU, a New Orleans news station, AeroMexico will continue to offer the inaugural flight, despite civil unrest in the country. AeroMexico also promises to start other services to cities in Latin America if these two new routes fare well.

AeroMexico coming to New Orleans Int'l?

On November 26, 2008, AeroMexico filed an application with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin a daily nonstop service from Mexico City, Mexico to New Orleans, Louisiana.  The application was approved by the DOT, and AeroMexico is currently engaging in talks with New Orleans Airport personnel.  Greater New Orleans Inc. President Michael Hecht who, with his economic development group, has been working fervently with AeroMexico stated, "AeroMexico sees New Orleans as a very attractive airport with a central location between Houston and Atlanta...  Our plan is to return New Orleans to the gateway to the Americas."  Airport officials stated that if AeroMexico wished to begin flights into New Orleans immediately, facilities such as INS (Immigration) Checkpoints and ticket counters are prepared and ready for use.

Video: Delta Airlines First Class Cabin - Boeing 757

This is a short video I took of the first class cabin while awaiting departure from New Orleans to Atlanta.  The airplane is a Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200 Transcontinental edition with PTV's (Personal TV's, which is Delta's name for IFE) and the flight flew from New Orleans Louis Armstrong International to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International.  It also sported the Susan G. Komen livary.  I was lucky to get the video before everyone was able to board.  It was a full flight, but still a good one.  Pre-departure drinks were served followed by more drinks and snacks from the Snack Basket after departure.

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."

Delta Now Offers Daily Nonstop Service from New Orleans to New York - LaGuardia

Delta Airlines recently announced that it would instate a new daily nonstop service between New Orleans Louis Armstrong International (MSY) and New York - LaGuardia Airport (LGA). Before Katrina, American Airlines offered a daily nonstop service to LaGuardia, but terminated it afterwards. For quite a while, there was a major void in air service to New York, and Delta has helped to fix that problem. Shortly after Katrina, Continental was the only airline which offered service to the Big Apple. All of their flights were full, so prices were in the sky (no pun intended). Not anymore! Delta would plan to use the dominant aircraft in the fleet: The MD-88. In my personal opinion, this new flight will boost commerce and travel to New Orleans. This will also provide an opportunity for competition, which will lower airfares. Delta will begin the service immediately.

Armstrong International (MSY) Showing Signs of Rebirth

On August 29, 2005 at 6:10 am, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, LA. Devastation was immanent, with thousands still trapped in the city. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport was one of the only lines of evacuation. After everyone was evacuated, the airport became a ghost town. It remained that way for the remainder of 2005 and a long portion of 2006. Although the airport endured all of the turmoil and strife, it is beginning to regain strength. In the Pre-Katrina era, the airport offered service to 44 cities, several being international. In early 2006, the airport offered service to about 25 cities, none being international. As of early 2007, the airport offered service to about 38 cities, one being international. The Airport board expects these numbers to go nowhere but up. Hopefully, with time, we will see an increase in international air service and tourism.