Industry News

New Orleans Airport Provides Update on TSA Checkpoint Lines

Mar 23, 2026 | News

NEW ORLEANS -Due to impacts from the federal government’s partial shutdown, there continues to be a shortage of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers at the security checkpoint at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY).

In anticipation of a higher volume of passenger activity on Sunday, March 22, and Monday, March 23, passengers with travel scheduled on those days should arrive at least 3 hours ahead of their scheduled departure to allow plenty of time to undergo security screening. Wait times on Sunday and Monday may be up to 2 hours, especially during peak periods, which are between 4 a.m. and  7 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Longer-than-average wait times are not anticipated on Friday, March 20, or Saturday, March 21, so anyone with travel scheduled on those days should plan to arrive at least 2 hours ahead of their scheduled departure as normal.

The Airport has staff on hand to help keep the lines organized and will continue to coordinate with the TSA as they navigate this issue.

For the latest updates on flight status, travelers should check directly with their airline.

For specific information about TSA staffing, please reach out to the agency directly.

Author

Airport Improvement