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# MSY snarled, but BTR isn’t getting bounce…yet
- URL: https://www.redeyebr.com/msy-btr/
- Published: 2026-03-11T01:27:31.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-11T01:27:31.000Z
- Author: Mukul Verma
- Tags: News

New Orleans’ airport has been snarled by too few TSA screeners, a staffing problem tied to federal funding.

**Why it matters:** Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport has **long sold itself on convenience**. But long waits to clear security in New Orleans have not led to a noticeable surge in travelers at BTR.

**What’s happening:** Most passengers are sticking with the flights they already booked out of MSY. Two reasons stand out:

• Switching airports can **trigger airline fees** or higher fares.

• The disruption is only a few days old, so many **travelers are either putting up with it or canceling** trips.

**What BTR says:** Louis Hubbard, BTR’s assistant director of aviation, said he hates seeing passengers in New Orleans deal with the trouble. But he added that it underscores Baton Rouge’s basic pitch: BTR is easier.

That message has been helping. **BTR handled a record 847,604 passengers in 2025**, up 0.5%. A key reason: American Airlines’ daily nonstop to Washington, D.C. Through November, 77% of seats on the route were sold, enough to make the flight profitable.

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