Big Easy Airport Study OK’d

The Louisiana Legislature approved a bill calling for a study on transferring New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport from local to state control before adjourning the 2008 regular session earlier this week.

Actually transferring the airport to the control of the newly created Southeast Regional Airport Authority will require approval by the City Council as well from New Orleans voters.

The study will determine the compensation the state will pay the city. The law authorizes the airport authority to issue bonds supported by state gambling revenue to finance the acquisition costs.

The airport transfer plan, which was proposed by a group of southeast Louisiana business leaders, calls for the city to use the bond proceeds to redevelop a large portion of downtown New Orleans.

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Transportation industry
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