New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Tel: (504) 464 0831.
Website: www.flymsy.com

Named after the famous New Orleans jazz musician, the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is 24km (15 miles) west of the city in Kenner. It is easy to negotiate and has all the modern airport facilities.

Because of the Katrina disaster, service was reduced for a couple of years but is returning to a level closer to normal. The newest service includes non-stop flights from Denver, Boston and Fort Lauderdale.

Approximate flight times to New Orleans: From London is 10 hours; from New York is 2 hours 30 minutes; from Los Angeles is 4 hours; from Toronto is 5 hours and from Sydney is 21 hours.

Airport facilities: These include banks, bureau de change, ATMs, post office, luggage storage, facilities for the disabled, Internet access, multilingual information booths and a few restaurants, bars and shops. The major car hire companies, including Avis, Dollar, Enterprise, Budget, Hertz, National and Thrifty, all have offices at the airport. Business facilities are also available at Travelex, located across from the post office in the Ticket Lobby.

Transport to the city: Shuttle buses (tel: (504) 522 3500 or 1 866 596 2699; website: www.airportshuttleneworleans.com) run frequently between the airport and the major downtown hotels (journey time - 45 minutes). The service continues until the last flight of the evening. The New Orleans Regional Transport Authority (tel: (504) 248 3900; website: www.norta.com) runs a local bus service every 10 minutes; you take the E-2 Airport Bus (operated by Jefferson Transit) on the airport's upper level, which transports you to Tulane and Loyola Avenues, two blocks from Canal Street, in downtown.

Taxi fares are regulated, and fares are slightly higher for the airport than for other destinations around the city. A fixed rate of US$28 (one to two people) is charged from the airport to most areas of New Orleans. For parties of more than two, the fare is US$12 per person.