Heady days for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The facility just set a new record the number of passengers in May. Airport officials counted more million-and-a-quarter people arrive and depart on flights.
This new record comes as delays continue to push back the opening of the highly anticipated new billion-and-a-half dollar terminal. The new record is more than 20-thousand more than the previous record set in March.
New airlines and new routes are driving the rise in numbers. Spirit Airlines, which first arrived six years ago with one destination is now serving 21 cities, having added Philadelphia, Austin, Denver, Raleigh and soon Nashville. Southwest continues to be the leader in flights at Armstrong, amounting for 35-percent of traffic.
Speaking to the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate, Airport Director of Aviation, Kevin Dolliole said, "The cruise industry has been a driver, also the number of conventions we have in town now." But Dolliole also pointed out the burgeoning tech and health care industry growth in New Orleans is driving passenger numbers. "As is the in-migration of 'millennials'. The city is much more than just leisure now," he remarked.
