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 successfully rebounded and significantly improved its infrastructure since Hurricane Katrina, now being better than its pre-storm condition.
- Improvements include all three FBOs being rebuilt, resurfaced surface roads, and fully operational runways and taxiways.
- Director of Aviation Randy Taylor postponed his retirement to spearhead the airport's revival, successfully achieving his goal.
- The airport's recovery symbolizes the broader revival of New Orleans, living up to its "NEW" identifier.
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