b'62 MSY SPECIAL EVENTSPHOTO: LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANSAt the airport, Super Bowl LIX prompted teams to develop new operational contingencies, INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT some of which have been adopted for the long term. For instance, a revised plan for resolving baggage handling system failures is now part of MSYs official emergency response protocols. Another adjustment was refining checkpoint flow to prevent overcrowding and provide alternate routes in case of overflow. These changes will undoubtedly increase the airports preparedness for high-volume events in the future.Sharing StrategiesDolliole advises other airports to plan for more than they expect when preparing for large events like a Super Bowl. Its important to have a structured, formalized planning process that engages all of your stakeholders at the airport, he adds. Specialty merchandise sold out and concessions revenue far exceeded usual levels. Speaking from a customer service standpoint, Wilcut emphasizes that unexpected issues are inevitable. Its a matter of having that contingency plan in place and empowering staff to be able to pivot and make adjustments in your operation, she says. For example, when an employee critical to traffic control became unavailable just before Super Bowl week, other personnel had to adjust quickly. Frontline workers were trusted to make decisions and implement small operational shifts as needed to maintain smooth operations.Murray, of Confluence Solutions, highlights the value of including all airport departments in early planning. Everybody worked together great, and getting everybody involved was clearly what made it successful for us, he remarks.Im proud of how the city handled the Super Bowl overall, Dolliole reflects. Im glad we were another positive in the overall operation.Forward ProgressSuper Bowl LIX happened to coincide with MSYs ongoing 20-year master planning process. The associated surges in passenger traffic the airport experienced provided data to compare against projected forecasts, providing a preview of how future growth might impact the facility. Firsthand insight into how high passenger volume affected operations will likely inform future infrastructure planning. You really see the difference between the modeling and the actual true activity, Dolliole shares. We got a really good peek at the next 20 years.The airports long-term master planning process will guide capital investments over the next five to 10 years. In the meantime, a smaller capital improvement program is already underway including entry signage, a campus connector road and an enhanced curb canopy. May | June 2025AirportImprovement.com'