B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 395; Flight Crew Type 395
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
Taxiing into MSY for the first time ATC was routing aircraft into and out of the gates. Our instructions were to taxi into Company gate. There was an aircraft parked on the taxiway at the top of the alley where there were two lines to taxi into gates; the Company gate being on the west side of the alley. The aircraft parked at the top of the alley was creating a safety obstruction from standard taxi while safely on the dedicated taxi line. Ground Control was aware of the waiting aircraft position but was requiring aircraft to deviate off Taxiway G and to cut between the taxiway and the ramp. Aircraft had to transition off G to either alley line 2; 3; or 4 to transition into the gate. The same with pushback and taxi out. Safety clearance and expectation from Ground were to deviate from standard taxi procedures. An awareness is needed here to correct this.
B737 Captain reported being instructed to taxi to the gate via a non-standard procedure that required taxiing off the taxiway.