Exploring Louisiana and its neighbouring southern states is cheap and easy with car hire from New Orleans Airport. Serving south-east Louisiana, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) provides quick and easy access to one of the world’s most fascinating cities, a place famous for its food, culture, music and pulsating party atmosphere. Auto Europe car rental from New Orleans Airport is the perfect way for visitors to explore the city and surrounding Mississippi Delta region during their stay in Louisiana, USA. Take a look at the many deals on offer and make sure you read our USA driving information guide before you travel, it has lots of handy tips! For additional peace of mind before booking your next car rental in Louisiana, please read the comments posted by some of our previous customers on our New Orleans car hire reviews page.
New Orleans Airport (MSZ)
Official Name: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Website: New Orleans Airport
Address: 900 Airline Drive, Kenner, LA 70062, United States
Location: The airport is located 11 miles west of downtown New Orleans.
Airlines operating at New Orleans Airport: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, British Airways*, Condor Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Jet Blue, Southwest, Spirit Airlines, United, Vacation Express and Virgin America.
*British Airways operates direct flights to New Orleans from London Heathrow throughout the year.
The airport currently consists of a main East-West passenger terminal divided into four concourses (A, B, C and D) with the baggage claim area for all airlines located on the ground-floor. An additional terminal (North) is due to open in 2019.
Known as the Consolidated Rental Car Facility (CONRAC), the car rental service centre at New Orleans Airport is located within a short walking distance of the East-West Terminal baggage claim area, exiting at belts 12-14. All rented cars are within walking distance and no shuttle bus is required to reach them. Remember to have your voucher, a valid driving licence and credit card ready for pick-up. Make sure you know your rental conditions regarding insurance and fuel policy and be sure to check the vehicle for any existing scratches or dents and mark them on a pick-up report. When dropping off the car, it will be inspected again for any new damage.
Company | Opening Hours |
Alamo | Monday-Wednesday 7am-midnight Thursday & Friday 7am-1am Saturday 7am-midnight Sundays 7am-1am |
Avis | 24h daily |
Budget | 24h daily |
Dollar | 24h daily |
Enterprise | 6am-midnight daily |
Hertz | 24h daily |
National | 24h daily |
Payless | 7am-11pm daily |
Thrifty | 4am-1am daily |
As you would expect of a major airport in the USA, passenger facilities at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport are extensive and include a business centre (open every day), express shipping service, free Wi-fi and designated areas for smoking and charging electronic devices. Rooms are available for nursing mothers and the airport provides special assistance for handicapped passengers, with good access for people confined to wheelchairs.
By Car
After picking up your car rental from New Orleans Airport, the city centre is only a 20-30-minute drive away (depending on the time of day) via the Interstate 10E motorway. Alternatively, heading west away from New Orleans on the same road takes you directly to Baton Rouge , the second-largest city in Louisiana.
By bus and taxi
Travelling by bus from the airport to downtown New Orleans is easy compared with many other cities in the USA. Operated by the Jefferson Transit Authority (JET), the Airport-Downtown Express (E2) is a regular service and takes around 50 minutes. An airport shuttle bus also serves many of the hotels in the city centre and other parts of New Orleans. Shuttle bus staff are on hand outside the baggage claim area to sell tickets and lead passengers to the buses. The Greyhound bus company operates services to destinations in other parts of Louisiana, such as Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The taxi rank is located outside the main terminal building near baggage claim belts 1 to 14. Expect to pay around US$40-45 for taxi rides between the airport and downtown New Orleans. Click here for more useful information about getting around New Orleans and what to see and do in the Big Easy.
Once the process of picking up your car hire at New Orleans Airport is complete, you'll find that parking in New Orleans is relatively stress-free if you plan ahead. Numerous car parks in and around the French Quarter cater for tourists, even during the Mardi Gras party season. To save money, look out for the Early Bird special offers at some car parks in the city centre. The majority of parking meters accept credit cards and dollar bills, but make sure you read the instructions carefully because parking is prohibited in designated rush-hour zones from 7-9am and 4-6pm. To avoid a hefty parking fine, please note that broken meters are not an invitation to park for free because they are technically off-limits!