MSY snarled, but BTR isn’t getting bounce…yet

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.