b'56 MSY SPECIAL EVENTSTo gain insight, MSY Deputy Director Walter Krygowski joinedTo help ready facilities, MSY conducted extensive pre-event the citys advance team to visit the 2024 Super Bowl host city,inspections and performed preventative maintenance. Suppliers Las Vegas. Meeting with airport leaders there led to key decisionschecked the working condition of soap dispensers, plumbers at MSY, such as expanding TSA operations, relocating theserviced sewer lift stations to prevent potential backups, and rideshare staging area and using its former terminal for chartercrews dusted high areas in concessions spaces. flights. Each was integrated into the event plan and developedThe shared mission was to have facilities in peak condition for through targeted subcommittees. the impending influx of travelers. Everybody was very hyper-During Super Bowl week, the airport effectively ran fourfocused on making sure were putting our best foot forward all the simultaneous operations:time, Wilcut remarks. It was just making sure that we all did ouran intensified level of commercial activity in the main terminal,job prior to the game.a significant increase in private aircraft traffic,The airport had several strategies to keep travelers flowing33 charter flights for teams and their families, andthrough the terminal over the days surrounding Super Bowl a separate processing area for other charter operations. LIXespecially on Monday after the Sunday evening game. The TSA checkpoint operated around the clock to accommodate The South Campus, which still has usable facilities from thepassengers arriving at all hours, and concessionaires extended former terminal, provided critical relief by handling screening andtheir schedules accordingly. processing for many charter passengers. Separating this traffic eased the burden in the main terminal and helped MSY handleWilcut reports that the baggage handling system performed the overall increase in volume.exceptionally well during the extra busy week. Were very proactive on our maintenance, especially since moving into this Accommodating the Masses new facility, she explains. We want the facility to continue to The airport took a proactive and collaborative approach whenperform efficiently while looking great.preparing for Super Bowl LIX. Planning meetings began severalLandside, one challenge was adjusting to the shift away from months in advance and included representatives from the airlines,shared shuttlesa service that was popular pre-COVID but hasnt TSA, concessionaires, janitorial staff and key airport departments.rebounded. Traffic volume at the airport has increased dramatically Monthly meetings helped teams anticipate challenges andbecause travelers now often take separate rideshare vehicles or taxis coordinate potential responses.to a given hotel instead of sharing one larger shuttle. Anticipating that the terminals existing pickup zone for rideshare vehicles could get overwhelmed, MSY established a second, larger staging area in a nearby parking garage. Although traffic moved slowly at times, the dual-zone approach prevented gridlock. If we had not done that, we would have been totally overwhelmed in our normal operation, says Dolliole. After watching that, Im thankful we called that shot and planned it out ahead of time.Janitorial PrepThe airport tapped every resource at its disposal to keep facilities clean and systems operating properly during the extended Super Bowl deluge. All maintenance and janitorial staff were scheduled, many working overtime. As janitorial manager, Harvey managed the schedules and ensured all shifts were covered. Each supervisor was assigned to a specific concourse for prompt response to spills, plumbing issues and other common mishaps. They were right there, and if there was a problem, they could immediately go and resolve it quickly, Murray explains. This hands-on strategy helped maintain cleanliness and service quality, he reports. The best compliments came from other May | June 2025AirportImprovement.com'