Lakefront Airport Continues To Recover

Traffic is picking up and hangar space is returning to New Orleans Lakefront Airport, more than six months after Hurricane Katrina caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage. Refurbishment of Million Air’s 1930s-era art deco Moffett hangar should conclude by the middle of this month. Million Air will also offer space in the 22,000-sq-ft former Atlantic Aviation hangar, due to open next week. Atlantic has not resumed operations since the storm. All runway lights are repaired and GPS and VOR/DME approaches are now available, although the ILS and ATC tower remain out of service and there is no weather reporting. The U.S. Customs office remains closed too. Million Air, which opened in temporary facilities less than two months after Hurricane Katrina, begins construction of a new multimillion-dollar facility next month with multiple hangars, offices and a terminal. “Weather reporting is on the priority list,” said Million Air general manager Addie Fanguy.