Delta Air Lines & Southwest Airlines waiving fees following deadly New Orleans attack

Following the deadly attack in New Orleans on January 1st, 2025, airlines have been offering increased flexibility to passengers whose travel plans have been affected to or from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY).

Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines were among the first carriers to update their rebooking policies, with United Airlines soon following suit.

At approximately 03:15 on January 1st, 2025, a pickup truck was driven into crowds of people lining New Orleans' famous Bourbon Street, leaving 15 dead and at least 35 injured. The attack took place during the city's busy New Year celebrations.

Delta Air Lines

Passengers booked with Delta Air Lines are eligible to change their flights without having to pay a change fee or difference in fare. Tickets must have been issued on or before January 1st, 2025, and must be rebooked for flights departing on or before January 6th, 2025.

If the same class of travel is not available, a fare difference may be payable. Passengers who are rebooking flights depart after January 6th, 2025, will have to pay any difference in fare, although the change fee will still be waived.

Passengers unable to travel on or before January 6th, 2025, can cancel their reservations and put the unused value of their ticket towards the purchase of a new flight. Any new flight must depart within one year of the original ticket issue date.

Southwest Airlines

The low-cost carrier is also increasing its flexibility for any passengers with flights booked to or from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport between January 1st, 2025, and January 3rd, 2025.

Eligible passengers can now rebook their ticket or travel on a standby basis on any flight between the original city pairs within 14 days of their original travel date without having to pay any additional fees.

United Airlines

Those with a United Airlines ticket to or from New Orleans purchased on or before December 31st, 2024 and for travel between January 1st, 2025, and January 3rd, 2025, are eligible for a travel waiver. This allows them to rebook their flights with no change fees or fare differences to be paid.

There are a number of conditions that go with the waiver. Rebooked tickets must be between the same two cities, and must be in the same class of travel. In addition, rebooked flights must depart on or before January 6th, 2025.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

Both Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines have a significant presence at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The carriers command 35% and 17% market shares, respectively. Meanwhile, United Airlines is the fourth-largest carrier at the airport, with a 13% market share.

Southwest Airlines serves over 20 destinations from New Orleans across the US and Central America, with domestic routes including Chicago (ORD) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and international services to San Pedro Sula (SAP) in Honduras.

Delta Air Lines connects New Orleans with its hubs across the US, including Atlanta (ATL), Minneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Los Angeles (LAX).

The five busiest routes from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport last year were:

1. Atlanta (ATL) - 687,000 passengers
2. Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - 396,000 passengers
3. Houston (IAH) - 364,000 passengers
4. Orlando (MCO) - 313,000 passengers
5. Denver (DEN) - 296,000 passengers.

The Christmas and New Year holidays mark one of the busiest travel periods of the year at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. As a result of the attack on January 1st, 2025, many passengers are likely to be looking to rearrange their travel plans, and the increased flexibility offered by the likes of Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, will likely offer some relief.

At just 4.5 feet above sea level, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is the third lowest-lying airport in the world, behind Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) at 11 feet below sea level and Kazakhstan's Atyrau International Airport (GUW) at 72 feet below sea level. In 2001, the airport was renamed in honor of the influential jazz musician Louis Armstrong's 100th birthday.