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Preparing for the Super Bowl - 8/1/2012 -
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New
Orleans has been the host to some very big sporting events over the years, but
none bigger than a Super Bowl. As everyone must know by now, New Orleans will
be in the spotlight on Feb. 3, 2013 when the Super Bowl returns to the Crescent
City for a 10th time. This high profile game will bring attention to
our region, our city and our airport. We must be prepared and that is why
planning at the Airport is very much underway. Louis Armstrong New Orleans
International Airport is the official welcome site for our flying visitors, so
everything must be ready and function as close to perfect as possible. There
will be no second chance to make a great first impression.
The Super Bowl organization consists of many
committees that have working groups who meet regularly to plan. The MSY Airport
Super Bowl Committee has seven internal working groups that consist of Airside
Operations, Public Safety & Security, Ground Transportation, Public
Relations & Media, Terminal Operations, Concessions and Construction. These
groups are responsible for a myriad of details too numerous to mention in this
report. However, some highlights include developing ground transportation
routes, compiling assets needed for conducting a welcome, developing a private
aircraft (General Aviation) parking plan for the vast number of planes that
will land, depart and park on our tarmac, coordination with the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) and Fixed Base Operations (FBO) that will handle
the increased General Aviation and charter traffic, and most importantly
working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to accommodate
additional security screening that will be needed for the day after the Super
Bowl.
The last
time the Super Bowl was in New Orleans was 2002, shortly after 9/11. The Airport is undergoing major renovations
both inside and out and the Super Bowl is our target date for completion of the
Airport terminal modernization. As I reported last month, in addition to the
$300 million Airport capital improvements scheduled and underway, the
introduction of new concessions and restaurants will involve store renovations
that must be completed by the time Super Bowl fans arrive as well. It will take
a team effort to coordinate the necessary renovation completions with
contractors and vendors. Next, the opposing teams that will play in the Super
Bowl will draw enough friends and fans to significantly increase the daily
passenger traffic through Armstrong International, not to mention the impact it
will have on commercial and private airports from Baton Rouge to Mississippi
during Super Bowl week. To accommodate the expected increase in passenger
loads, airlines will add seating to their normal schedule with additional or
larger aircraft. Our customer service representatives along with Host Committee
Volunteers will hand out beads, maps and sanctioned literature to arriving
passengers, while brass bands serenade the arrivals in our updated baggage
claim.
I
anticipate that the security screening after the game will present one of the
greatest challenges because of the vast number of passengers that must be
processed on the day following the game. To make the outbound process work
efficiently, we are incorporating a special 5-4-3-2-1 message for our outbound
passengers. It works like this. Check out of your hotel 5 hours before your
departure time; Turn in your rental car 4 hours before your departure time;
Check in at the ticket counter 3 hours before your departure time; Be at the
security screening checkpoint 2 hours before your departure time; And finally
be at your gate 1 hour before your departure time. To expedite the screening of
the thousands of passengers leaving after the game, additional security
checkpoints will be in place as well as auxiliary locations for screening in
the terminal and special sites on the airport grounds. Our New Orleans Aviation
Board (NOAB) office staff along with our Customer Service Representatives and
numerous volunteers will be in the terminal to assist our passengers during
their check-in process.
It is an
honor to be chosen to host this exciting sporting event. The new look of our
airport and special welcome will hopefully make a positive impression on our
incoming guests and set the tone for what will be a fun time for all in our
great city. As we prepare to meet the challenges of a Super Bowl host, we
understand the important role the NOAB staff will play in making this Super
Bowl the best one ever.
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