The new New Orleans airport

While New Orleans has colloquially been called a city to “pass a good time”, I find the Louis Armstrong International Airport a place of certainty and escape. As travelers proceed towards the automated doors at different speeds and enter the terminal, there is a cacophony of chatter and live jazz music in the air. Because the airport was built on the north side of the existent infrastructure, the location remains the same- that cherished address of 1 Terminal Drive. The surrounding roads and highways are circuitous with an aura of rebirth as new structures are set to be complete in 2023. Most drivers can navigate the construction to arrive at the outdoor entrance but some ramps are only half built. Our contemporary airport, filled with Louisiana artwork and energy, welcomes passengers with a glimpse of Louisiana history and the essence of the New Orleans spirit.

By checking in bags upon entering the terminal, the airport provides a feeling of security and synchrony. Once bags are left with the airline attendant, passengers continue unworried to the next step in going through the airport. All passengers- from the composed businesswoman to the unhurried college student, and even the apprehensive senior eventually streamline to escalators down to the security check-in point. Transcending the security checkpoint, a chaotic harmony is found- where passengers disrobe and prepare their densely packed belongings to prepare for screening.  Passengers walk towards their respective entrances within the queue, where seasoned travelers who have selectively purchased an abridged screening.

After passing through the TSA checkpoint and recalibrating with their belongings, people adjust their possessions and outfits (time spent re-assembling typically depends on how much had to be taken off and out in their particular security zone). Once through the security check, individuals can nonchalantly roam the airport. The many unique leisure activities in the Louis Armstrong International Airport include, three comfortable lounges, tax- free shopping for international tourists, in addition an occasional baby alligator petting area (every Friday from 1:30PM to 3PM). While some passengers check the TV to confirm their flight status, other travelers enjoy the first-class lounge as an area of serenity and escape from the mayhem in the terminal. Although travelers can only technically be in one concourse through the gate assignment via flight information, they have access to all three concourses and an array of food, drinks, news, and gifts.

Whether scouring for food to satisfy a craving or delightfully enjoying local artwork, I meander the terminal with confidence in my time management skills and airport expertise. Growing up with a father who traveled for work and on the opposite side of the country from my relatives, I grew comfortable being on the move, and eventually found it to be an escape from reality. Travelling became my oasis as there was certainty in routine, a break from my responsibilities, clear time management, and so many places to explore. As I wait in line for my fresh beignets from Cafe Du Monde, headphones in, of course, to block out the chaotic noises, I watch the people around me like I am at the zoo. The line moves slowly, just like the average pace of life in New Orleans, but I don’t mind because the warm, powdery treat is worth it. I slurp down my iced coffee from the Starbucks next door and focus on the sound of Jack Johnson coming through my headphones to ignore the reality of long lines and wait times. Finally, I make it to the front of the line, pay for my doughy fried snack, and wait patiently as I know someone will hand me my order soon. I can’t wait to take a bite, so I allow myself to nibble, which instantly takes my mind to the primary location in the Warehouse District that has been open since 1862. After I swallow my first bite, I save the rest for when I settle in a chair in front of my gate.

The fresh powdered-sugary smell fills the path I walk and makes some heads turn in my direction. Looking around as I walk to my exact gate, I immediately notice the people native to New Orleans and those who are simply tourists in the terminal. I feel comforted in the fact that we all have our paths and stories for being in New Orleans. Despite not talking to other people in the airport, I feel a sense of community through the Saints merchandise displayed and live jazz music filling the room with percussion and passion. Performances aim to provide local musicians with the opportunity to reveal their talents, by fostering community support, and increase serotonin in travelers with a splash of New Orleans music culture. By creating a sense of community between the live musicians and the city of New Orleans, travelers can leave behind their personal thoughts and get lost in the Jazz. Through embracing the city’s history and legacy of music, people in the terminal are exposed to local Jazz regularly and have improved creative cognition and imagination. Distracted by constant entertainment in the terminal, my thoughts are filled with love for this city and culture instead of my typical anxious thinking.

I finished my snack and decided I should go to the bathroom before boarding my flight. I enter the women’s restroom and am pleasantly shocked by the cleanliness and hi-tec qualities. The ceilings are high, creating an ambiance of elegance and order, despite being in a dirty room where people relieve themselves. I squish my bags into the stall and immediately notice the automated seat covers for increased sanitation. I am grateful for the engineers who invented this contraption and overjoyed that my most frequently used airport is clean. The bathroom also has large windows, which radiate natural light inside, generating a positive aura for all people in the bathroom. Although the bathroom contains an immense amount of natural sunlight, the ability to look outside on the tarmac and see yourself physically trapped within the airport grounds creates a sense of imprisonment. After washing my hands, I walk confidently out of the restroom and back to my gate to charge my phone before boarding begins.

I sit in a chair with my phone charging, waiting for the gate attendant to announce that the boarding process will begin soon. I exude strength and courage, even when making awkward eye contact with a stranger across the room, because this is a place I feel comfortable in my routine and sure in my understanding of the process. With 35 gates and a plethora of places to eat, drink, or shop, the updated Louis Armstrong Airport has options for all ages and types of people. Whether you are visiting New Orleans for the first time or have been living here for twenty years, after experiencing the rich “Nawlins” culture, it is hard for your face not to light up when you hear jazz music or smell fresh beignets. For me, the best part about New Orleans is the passion for our city and the people who live here. This passion and pride run so strongly that it was essential to incorporate in the new airport, even though airports are typically a place of annoyances and fast movements, emphasizing the relaxed and joyous attitude towards life. Every time I go to the airport, I am reminded of this New Orleans way of life and feel a sense of security in the routine and set schedule.