When the NFL-champion New Orleans Saints took home the Super Bowl trophy, Lakefront Airport (NEW) in Crescent City was, no doubt, a hopping place. Like the rest of the city, that image stands in stark contrast to the dark days of five years ago when Hurricane Katrina devastated lives and brought an entire culture to its knees. In the intervening time, the airport infrastructure has not only rebounded, but is better than it was before the storm. For example, the surface roads between Lakefront and downtown New Orleans have been resurfaced to better than pre-Katrina condition. One of the beauties of Lakefront is that it’s only a 10-minute drive to the French Quarter, the business district, and the Superdome — where residents took refuge during the storm, and which became one of the most visible symbols for the city’s revival. Lakefront Director of Aviation Randy Taylor was looking forward to imminent retirement when Katrina struck. Instead, he made it his career ambition to oversee the airport’s revival. Now, with all three FBOs rebuilt and the runways and taxiways back to full operation, his goal has been realized. Now, more than ever, the airport lives up to its ICAO identifier — NEW.
New Orleans Airport Even Stronger Post-Katrina
Key Takeaways:
- Lakefront Airport (NEW) in New Orleans has fully recovered and significantly improved its infrastructure since Hurricane Katrina, surpassing pre-storm conditions.
- The extensive reconstruction includes resurfaced roads connecting to downtown, all three FBOs rebuilt, and runways and taxiways fully operational.
- Director Randy Taylor dedicated his career to overseeing the airport's successful revival, making it a symbol of New Orleans' broader post-Katrina resurgence.
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