With summer travel ramping up and Essence Fest on the horizon, New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) is preparing for one of its busiest weekends. But for many travelers, it’s not just the crowds that have them on edge.
Ongoing tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran have left some passengers nervous — even if they’re staying stateside.
“It can be a little scary at times because you never know, like what’s going to happen,” said Tyler Patton, a traveler flying to Los Angeles.
While Tyler’s trip is domestic, she says her mind keeps drifting to what’s happening abroad.
“If the day that you’re flying in the air, something ends up happening or, you know, they decide to possibly attack and it’s your time flying … you don’t know who’s on the airline.”
Some travelers say the global headlines have already started to impact their schedules.
“They almost canceled the conference. They were really concerned,” said Marci Klein, also heading to L.A. “When I went to the conference, they had a big safety talk about everything, and everybody was a little bit on edge.”
According to the Transportation Security Administration, that sense of urgency is nothing new behind the scenes.
“Our training is always to expect the unexpected,” said Gervais Joubert, TSA’s Deputy Press Secretary.
“TSA is always operating at a heightened state of security. I mean, it’s just the state of our business. We never know if anything is going to happen,” said Joubert.
Still, some travelers say even with visible security measures in place, the anxiety lingers.
“I still do feel safe, you know, with the whole TSA and the way they’re very heavy on checking people, the pat downs and things. But, you know, anxiety is still high,” said Tyler.
With Fourth of July travel and Essence Fest intersecting in New Orleans this week, MSY is expecting a surge. Whether it’s fear or just extra foot traffic, officials urge travelers to arrive early and stay aware.
READ MORE:Travelers on edge as global tensions raise anxiety at MSY
