Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (KMSY), Louisiana
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (KMSY) is a Class 1 towered airport serving the New Orleans metro area, located roughly 4.6 nautical miles from the city center. The field sits at 3 feet elevation and offers both 100LL and Jet A fuel, with a primary runway extending 10,104 feet. Onsite CBP inspection services and a USDA compliance agreement support international operations directly at the airport.
Runways
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International has two paved runways. The longest, 11/29, is 10,104 ft long and 150 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first. Helipads and surfaces under 500 ft are excluded.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals. A USDA compliance agreement is in place.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International recorded 13,906 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in February. Business aviation traffic at KMSY is concentrated in the winter and early spring months, with February seeing the highest volume and July through September consistently the lowest.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month February, 1,890 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International averages 23.0 days above 90°F in August and 2.9 freeze days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 91.4°F, and January the coldest, at 62.5°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International has published operating constraints in six categories: access, weight restrictions, runway notes, noise procedures, environmental and pavement strength.
The Taxiway E safety area is reduced to 171 feet, between Taxiway A and the approach end of Runway 11, due to an obstruction.
180-degree turns and locked-wheel turns are prohibited on the asphalt surface for aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or more.
A road 12 feet high runs parallel to and 365 feet right of the centerline, within 0 to 200 feet from the runway end.
A road 13 feet high runs parallel to and 289 feet left of the centerline, within 0 to 200 feet from the runway end.
A tree 53 feet high is located 1,557 feet from the runway, 694 feet right of centerline, on a 30:1 slope based on the displaced threshold.
The surface movement guidance and control system on Taxiway G, between Runway 11/29 and Taxiway S, is unserviceable on a permanent basis.
Runway 11 is noise sensitive for departures and is available only for operational necessity. All runways are noise sensitive for arrivals. Arriving turbojets must fly a 5-mile final approach to minimize noise.
Flocks of birds are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
PCR VALUE: 600/R/D/W/T
PCR VALUE: 1190/R/B/W/T
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International has five airfields within 32 NM. The closest is Lakefront (KNEW), 12.36 NM east.
Part of the New Orleans area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KMSY
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KMSY.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Is customs available at KMSY for international arrivals?
Yes, KMSY has onsite CBP inspection services for international arrivals. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International also operates under a USDA compliance agreement, which applies to flights carrying agricultural products or livestock. Crews should confirm applicable agricultural declarations ahead of arrival given this compliance framework. This onsite arrangement distinguishes KMSY from smaller regional fields in the area that route through nearest-customs airports instead.
What is the longest runway at KMSY?
The longest runway at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (KMSY) is Runway 11/29, a concrete surface measuring 10,104 feet by 150 feet. A second concrete runway, 02/20, measures 7,002 feet by 150 feet. Both are paved and support the airport's business and commercial traffic. Two helipads, H1 and H2, are also listed at the field with 50-by-50-foot dimensions.
Are there noise abatement procedures at KMSY?
Yes, KMSY has specific noise abatement procedures affecting both departures and arrivals. Runway 11 is noise sensitive for departures and is available only for operational necessity. All runways at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International are considered noise sensitive for arrivals. Arriving turbojets are required to fly a 5-mile final approach specifically to reduce noise impact on surrounding areas.
What restrictions apply to turns on the pavement at KMSY?
Aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or more are prohibited from making 180-degree turns or locked-wheel turns on the asphalt surface at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International. This restriction is specific to the asphalt pavement rather than the concrete runways. Dispatchers planning ground movements for heavier aircraft should account for this limitation when coordinating turnaround procedures at KMSY. Lighter aircraft under this threshold are not subject to the same restriction.
How much business aviation traffic does KMSY handle?
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International recorded 13,906 business aviation operations in 2025, according to FAA TFMSC data, against a total of 126,476 annual operations at the field. Traffic is not evenly distributed across the year, with February typically the busiest month for business aviation at KMSY and mid-summer months consistently the quietest. This concentration should factor into scheduling expectations for ramp and handling coordination at the airport.