Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is the gateway to one of America’s most unique destinations. Whether you’re exploring the French Quarter, catching live music on Bourbon Street, boarding a cruise along the Mississippi River, wandering the Garden District, or visiting for Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, or a Saints game, your New Orleans experience starts the moment you arrive.
Named after one of the world’s most influential jazz musicians, MSY reflects the culture that makes New Orleans unforgettable. From Creole cuisine and live music to Louisiana-made gifts and local art, here’s what to know to make the most of your time at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
Local Insight: The airport’s code, MSY, predates the airport itself. It comes from Moisant Stock Yards, the property where pioneering aviator John Bevins Moisant crashed in 1910. Although the airport is now named after jazz legend Louis Armstrong, its three-letter code preserves an earlier chapter of New Orleans aviation history.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is the primary airport serving New Orleans and southeast Louisiana, welcoming millions of travelers each year. Located about 15 miles west of downtown, MSY provides convenient access to the French Quarter, Garden District, Warehouse District, and neighborhoods throughout the Crescent City.
MSY offers nonstop service throughout North America, the Caribbean, and select international destinations. Its modern, single-terminal design makes it easy to navigate whether you’re starting your trip, making a connection, or heading home.
For cruise passengers, MSY also provides convenient access to the Port of New Orleans. Whether you’re setting sail along the Mississippi River or spending a few days exploring the city before or after your cruise, MSY keeps you connected to the next part of your adventure.
In New Orleans, music, food, and tradition are a foundational part of everyday life. Jazz fills neighborhood clubs, brass bands lead second lines through historic streets, and generations of cooks, artists, and musicians have shaped a culture recognized around the world.
That same spirit carries into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. From local restaurants and shops showcasing the work of New Orleans makers to live performances by Louisiana musicians, MSY gives travelers a taste of the Crescent City without leaving the terminal.
Our recommendations combine local favorites with picks from CLEAR Ambassadors at MSY.
New Orleans is one of America’s most iconic food cities, where Creole and Cajun traditions, Gulf seafood, neighborhood restaurants, and generations of family recipes have created a culinary culture unlike anywhere else.
Our CLEAR Ambassadors recommend three local favorites in Concourse C. Leah’s Kitchen honors the legacy of Leah Chase, the Queen of Creole Cuisine, with Creole favorites inspired by one of the city’s most influential culinary figures. The Munch Factory serves New Orleans comfort food rooted in local flavors, while Cure brings the craft cocktail experience of its acclaimed New Orleans bar to MSY.
In Concourse B, Emeril’s Table brings Chef Emeril Lagasse’s Louisiana cooking to the airport, while MoPho reflects the Vietnamese influences that have become an important part of New Orleans’ modern food scene. Café du Monde, a New Orleans institution dating back to 1862, serves its iconic beignets and café au lait for one more taste of the Crescent City before takeoff.
Back in Concourse C, Folse Market celebrates Louisiana’s culinary heritage through regional flavors and specialties.
New Orleans leaves an impression long after your trip ends. From local design and Mardi Gras traditions to the city’s unmistakable sense of humor, MSY offers plenty of ways to bring a piece of the Crescent City home.
In Concourse B, Dirty Coast captures New Orleans’ personality through apparel, accessories, and gifts inspired by local humor, neighborhood references, and the city’s signature wit.
In Concourse C, Fleurty Girl offers locally inspired apparel, home décor, and gifts celebrating New Orleans neighborhoods, festivals, and Mardi Gras traditions. Nearby, Mignon Faget showcases jewelry from one of the city’s most celebrated designers, with pieces inspired by Louisiana’s landscapes, architecture, and natural beauty.
The rhythm of New Orleans doesn’t stop at the airport. Whether you have 30 minutes before boarding or several hours between flights, MSY gives you more ways to experience the Crescent City through live music, local art, and thoughtful design.
Local Insight: Keep an eye out for MSY’s Plane de Lis, the airport’s modern interpretation of the iconic fleur-de-lis. The symbol combines one of New Orleans’ most recognizable emblems with the silhouette of an airplane taking flight, celebrating the city’s heritage and the journeys that begin here.
One of the most memorable parts of traveling through MSY is Music @ MSY. Throughout the week, local musicians perform live across three airport stages, giving travelers a chance to experience the sounds of New Orleans before boarding.
If you’re arriving early or have time before heading through airport security, stop by the Jazz Garden Stage near baggage claim. Beyond airport security, you’ll find two additional performance stages in Concourse B, where jazz takes center stage alongside blues, zydeco, funk, R&B, soul, and other Louisiana sounds.
Beyond the live performances, take time to explore the airport’s public art and thoughtfully designed spaces celebrating Louisiana’s history, culture, and creative spirit.
MSY’s single-terminal layout makes it easy to explore beyond your departure concourse without leaving the secure area. Head to another concourse for a Creole meal, browse local shops, or listen for the next Music @ MSY performance before making your way to your gate.
Have several hours between flights?
MSY is about 15 miles from downtown New Orleans, making a longer layover an opportunity to experience more of the city. Visit Café du Monde in the French Market for fresh beignets and chicory coffee, explore the historic French Quarter, or visit The National WWII Museum in the Warehouse District.
If your connection is short, check your departure gate as soon as you land. MSY’s single-terminal layout allows travelers to walk between Concourses A, B, and C without leaving the secure area.
CLEAR Concierge Arrival Service is available at Louis Armstrong International Airport for CLEAR+ Members. Your personal airport concierge will greet you at the gate when you land, help with your bags, and bring you straight to your connecting flight or ground transportation.
Whether you’re departing, arriving, or connecting through Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, a little planning can give you more confidence and control. From the CLEAR App to accessibility resources, these tools can help you know what to expect before you go.
Get everything you need, exactly when you need it from home to gate with the free CLEAR App. Know when to leave with real-time traffic and airport conditions, get directions to the CLEAR+ Lane, check live security wait times, and pre-order your Starbucks to have it ready and waiting for pickup on the way to your gate.
CLEAR Concierge is your personal airport concierge for a stress-free airport experience. Your dedicated CLEAR Ambassador will meet you at the curb when you arrive, help with bags and check-in, and bring you straight through airport security to your gate or lounge.
Available at MSY for CLEAR+ Members, CLEAR Concierge can be especially helpful for families, travelers with multiple bags, anyone navigating the airport for the first time, or travelers in a rush.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport offers a variety of accessibility services to support travelers throughout their journey. Accessible restrooms, family restrooms, nursing rooms, and service animal relief areas are available throughout the airport, while wheelchair assistance can be arranged directly through your airline before your trip.
MSY also participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, which helps travelers with non-visible disabilities discreetly indicate they may benefit from additional time, patience, or assistance while moving through the airport. Complimentary Sunflower lanyards and bracelets are available at the Customer Service Desk on Level 1 between Doors 2 and 3.
Whether you’re departing, arriving, or connecting through MSY, the airport’s modern layout makes it easy to find your way. Here’s what to know before you go.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has a single terminal with three concourses: A, B, and C. Airlines serving MSY include Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Breeze Airways, and British Airways, along with several other domestic and international carriers.
Airline assignments can change, so check the MSY airline directory before your trip to confirm your airline and departure information.
Once you’ve cleared airport security, you can walk between Concourses A, B, and C without leaving the secure area.
Traveler Tip: Because every concourse is accessible beyond airport security, you can explore local restaurants, shops, and live music throughout the terminal before making your way to your departure gate.
Members can speed through airport security in seconds at the CLEAR+ Lanes, located at the Level 2 checkpoint which serves all three concourses.
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