So far, things are running smoothly as folks begin flying in for the final weekend of New Orleans 2024 Carnival Season.
That's the word from Erin Burns, Communications Director for Louis Armstrong International Airport in Kenner.
She says, "We are expecting about an average of 22-thousand daily seats coming in to the airport."
Burns says, "The busiest day for passengers arriving is expected to be Friday, February 9th...with the busiest days for departures Wednesday, February 14th, Ash Wednesday, also Valentine's Day.
To welcome passengers to the Big Easy's Carnival celebration, today the airport will have a brass band parade through all of the concourses and the handing out of beads and trinkets.
Burns says for those who rather escape the Carnival crowds, there are five parking options available to those flying out of the area until after Mardi Gras.
She says that if you are arriving for the Mardi Gras celebrations leading up to Fat Tuesday, "Just make sure you have a plan. Know how you're going to get to wherever you're going. We have a lot of different ground transportation options."
Burns says for further information about the airport's operations that passengers may find helpful that can be found online at flymsy.com.
To take care of the crowds coming to the airport, Burns says, "We have adequate staffing to meet the demand and meet the passenger traffic that we're expecting over the weekend."
She says one of the more frequent question is whether flyers can bring a King Cake through security onto the concourses, with the answer yes, although several concessionaires will be near the gates of the airport to purchase a King Cake there.