Construction work has begun on the new North Terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Louisiana, USA.
Announced in April 2013, the new North Terminal will create more than 13,000 new construction jobs as well as opportunities for local firms and disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) in the region. The 760,500ft² terminal will feature 30 gates, a 2,000-car parking garage, a central utility plant and a ground transportation staging area. It will be delivered at a cost of US$826m with completion scheduled for October 1, 2018.
Mitch Landrieu, Mayor of New Orleans, said, “As the most transformative project for New Orleans since the Superdome, the new North Terminal project will create new jobs and unmatched business opportunities for the people of New Orleans and southeast Louisiana. For over 40 years, people talked about developing an airport that was reflective of our city, yet for decades there was little action and minimal collaboration. We did the hard work, leveraged our relationships with federal, state and local partners, and today a financially feasible, world-class airport is on the way.”
Iftikhar Ahmad, executive director, New Orleans Aviation Board, the airport operator, said, “The airport is taking off. We now have 52 direct flights on 14 airlines. That’s an all-time high. In 2015, we hosted more than 10 million passengers. That’s another record.
“As we break ground at the new North Terminal, we take another major step forward. Getting here was not easy. It took a lot of hard work by our team and strong partnerships with the airlines, the FAA and local community leaders to reach this point. We’re excited to bring this new terminal to our great city.”