Increases in passenger traffic and an outdated airport master plan spurred the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (LANOIA) and the Federal Aviation Administration to implement this plan. The plan addressed goals to identify new opportunities for expanding and improving the markets served by LANOIA, improve the overall efficiency and access to the airport, and maximize the potential of the airport’s real property and regional attractions, as well as accommodating growth for 20 years and beyond.

It was long understood that the airport faced obstacles in its ability to expand in a manner that most benefitted the airport and the community. Manning's comprehensive master plan focused on providing a framework of decisions for expanding facilities and addressing key issues.