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Airport and Airlines
Northwest, Delta and Continental are currently offering limited service to the airport. Southwest and American will commence limited service today and tomorrow. Please check with these carriers for flight schedules, and visit www.flymsy.com for real-time flight information.
Electricians and building maintenance workers from Sky Harbor International Airport are set to drive to New Orleans on Tuesday to help fix the airport there. The airport re-opened for limited service on Sept. 13. Crews from facilities near New Orleans have since worked to get the airport fully up and running, but more repairs are needed. The Arizona crews will relieve those workers.
The first scheduled passenger flight following Hurricane Katrina, Northwest Airlines Flight 947 from Memphis, Tenn., arrived at the airport on Tuesday, September 13 , and shortly thereafter Delta Air Lines had its first flight arrival from its Atlanta hub. Last Wednesday and Thursday, Delta arrivals increased to two per day, with the possibility of increasing further based on demand. Continental Airlines resumed limited service – 4 flights daily to Houston (IAH) – yesterday.
Southwest Airlines will resume limited service – 2 flights daily to Houston Hobby (HOU) – on Tuesday, September 20.
American Airlines will resume limited service – 3 flights daily to Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) – on Wednesday, September 21.
FedEx restarted scheduled cargo service arrival with an evening flight from its Memphis superhub.
For the immediate future, all flights will operate out of Concourses A and B.
Airlines are also working with the Baton Rouge airport to add significant new flights there to help service the region.
The NOMCVB is working with airlines to ask for forbearance on issues related to fees/penalties for rescheduling flights, particularly as they relate to meetings and conventions in light of postponements and cancellations in the wake of Katrina. We expect the airlines to respond appropriately and assist you. However, we stress that you yourself must work directly with the airlines regarding your specific situations as the NOMCVB lacks the current manpower and communication capabilities to accommodate individual negotiations.
NOTE: Passengers going to Armstrong International are reminded that both Jefferson Parish and the City of New Orleans are still under mandatory evacuation, and many other surrounding areas are operating under curfew. Airport authorities recommend that travelers research their ability to get around outside the airport environment, particularly since rental car services have not yet resumed. As well, travelers should secure and confirm hotel accommodations prior to going to the area since only a few local hotels are open, and availability is limited.
For more information, visit the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport Web site at http://www.flymsy.com
Cruise Lines
All cruises departing from New Orleans are suspended for the time being. Please contact your cruise line directly for updates.
The Carnival Conquest cruises departing September 11, 2005 and beyond will now operate round trip from Galveston, Texas.
Carnival Cruise Lines has chartered the Sensation, Holiday, and Ecstasy to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. All Sensation departures from September 5, 2005, through and including March 2, 2006, have been cancelled. All Holiday departures from September 8, 2005, through March 4, 2006, have been cancelled. All Elation departures from September 11, 2005, through February 26, 2006, have been cancelled.
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE PASSENGERS - Click here for more information about cruise operations or call 1-800-CARNIVAL.
Port of New Orleans
The Port re-opened to cargo traffic on September 14th.
The Lykes Flyer, operated by CP Ships, docked at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal on Tuesday around 7:15 p.m. P&O Ports worked the ship Tuesday night, and it set sail Wednesday morning. The ship held the equivalent of 3,200 twenty-foot-long cargo containers.
Other terminal operators are also working hard to re-establish their operations in the Port. Pacorini USA, Inc., which operates the Alabo Street Wharf, has inspected its terminal and is working on some cleanup and minor repairs. Pacorini is getting in touch with its labor force and hopes to be operational this week.
Also, the U.S. Customs Service is setting up an office within the administration of the Port of New Orleans while continuing to operate from its offices in Baton Rouge. The Port of New Orleans CRESCENT system is up and running. U.S. Customs vessel manifests are being filed and managed by CRESCENT users.
Members of the Port community who need to reach Customs should call the following numbers: 225-757-7701; 225-389-0261; 504-274-7531; 225-869-3765; or e-mail angela.downey@dhs.gov .
State Street Coffee’s operations are continuing undisturbed through temporary office space in Massachusetts. Its temporary contact numbers are 978-824-0143 and 978-824-0147 (fax). Southport Agencies is operational and is coordinating its business activity via a Houston location. For Southport Agencies contact information, visit http://www.portofno.com/katrina.htm
The Port of New Orleans hotline (1-866-476-7866) will provide updated information about access to the port area as it becomes available.
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