Thursday, Mar 26, 2026

New Orleans Lakefront Airport (NEW) is a secret airport in case you want to experience a combination of history, architecture, and modern aviation. This airport is only a few minutes away, and it is a different kind of travel experience, unlike the big commercial airports such as the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
This guide will cover all the details of Lakefront Airport, including its interesting history, its modern activities, and attractions for visitors.
Lakefront Airport (NEW) is a public-use airport located approximately 5 miles northeast of downtown New Orleans in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. It is a general aviation reliever airport, which is to assist in the reduction of congestion in the major airports due to the presence of private, charter, and small aircraft.
Today, the airport serves:
General aviation flights
Private and charter services
Does NOT have regular commercial airline service.
Military operations occasionally.
Although Lakefront Airport is not a significant business aviation center, it serves as a significant regional aviation center in the Gulf South.
The history of Lakefront Airport is one of the most interesting among the airports in the United States.
Its construction started in 1929 and was directed by one of the most influential political figures in Louisiana, Huey Long. The airport was constructed on an artificial peninsula that jutted into Lake Pontchartrain and was an engineering wonder of its era.
It was named Shushan Airport after Abraham Shushan. The airport was, however, renamed as New Orleans Airport in 1939 after political scandals in the late 1930s.
In 1946, the commercial airline service was transferred to the current Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Since then, Lakefront Airport has become a general aviation airport, which it continues to be to this day.
The U.S. Army & Air Forces used the airport during World War II. The terminal was later, in the 1960s, reinforced with thick concrete to serve as a Cold War bomb shelter, radically changing its appearance.
The airport was severely damaged by the 2005 Hurricane Katrina. High winds and storm surge ruined hangars and buildings, leaving most of the airport in shambles.
The devastation was compensated for by a relatively quick resumption of operations. The city was resilient, and it took several years to restore the historic terminal (and the entire terminal) fully.
The architect Leon C. Weiss created one of the most remarkable elements of the Lakefront Airport, the so-called Art Deco terminal.
Original interior design of the 1930s.
Beautiful detailing in the terminal.
Reconstructed exterior following decades of changes.
One of the key attractions outside the terminal is the Fountain of the Four Winds, designed by sculptor Enrique Alferez, and since then it has become a local landmark.
You can also find the popular Walnut Room restaurant inside, which is a favorite among both locals and visitors.
Lakefront Airport has even penetrated Hollywood. The terminal was also used as a movie set in the 2011 superhero film Green Lantern, featuring Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively.
The old-fashioned look of the airport was an ideal setting of a fictitious aviation corporation in the movie.
The WWII Air, Sea, and Land Festival has been held at Lakefront Airport since 2014.
This is a thrilling three-day affair consisting of:
Airshows of vintage aircraft.
Military vehicle displays
Live reenactments
Tributes to WWII veterans
It is held in conjunction with such institutions as the National WWII Museum and the Commemorative Air Force.
The Lakefront Airport covers an area of 473 acres and is only 7 feet above sea level.
There are three runways in the airport, which are asphalt:
18R/36L – 6,879 ft (primary runway)
18L/36R – 3,697 ft
9/27 – 3,114 ft
These runways accommodate a great variety of aircraft, including small personal aircraft and business jets.
For the year ending December 31, 2022:
Total operations: 78,080 annually
Daily average: 214 flights
88% General aviation
9% Air taxi
3% Military
62% Single-engine aircraft
18% Multi-engine
15% Jets
6% Helicopters
This is a clear indication that the airport is concentrated on private and business aviation, but not on commercial airline traffic.
Although you may not be flying, Lakefront Airport is worth visiting because of:
Aviation fans and plane spotting.
Lover of Art Deco architecture.
Dining at the Walnut Room
Lake scenic photography.
Visiting aviation festivals and events.
New Orleans Lakefront Airport (NEW) is not merely an airport but a living history of Louisiana. Since its inception with Huey Long, the airport has become an icon of strength, culture, and aviation history.
Lakefront Airport will provide you with a history, architecture, and aviation charm all within minutes of downtown New Orleans, should you be heading there or just sightseeing.

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