LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Plans are taking off for the future of air travel across Southern Nevada.
On Tuesday, Department of Aviation leaders for Clark County presented plans to the Clark County Board of Commissioners to address a growing demand for air travel to Las Vegas.
“Air travel now brings in more visitors to our destination than any other mode of transportation,” Rosemary Vassiliadis, Director of Aviation for Clark County explained.
The plans call for expanding Harry Reid International Airport and adding a second airport about 30 miles away. While the new supplemental airport is still years away, the updates coming to Harry Reid International Airport will be much quicker. They include expanding terminal one over the old terminal two sites.
The expansion would nearly double the number of gates through a more efficient pier design, which for passengers means more space. A new central warehouse will also be built to support the expansion.
For drivers, a reconfigured roadway will separate airport traffic from those just driving through.
Before those improvements can happen, the plan will be presented to those who help pay for it through airport user fees like the airlines.
“We’ll be presenting to our tenants, everyone who operates out of the airport, and get their feedback and then we’ll incorporate it and get right to design,” Vassiliadis said.
The work will all be done in phases starting next year.
Harry Reid International Airport is expected to reach a full capacity of 63 million passengers annually by 2030. Last year, it set a record of 57.6 million.
The second airport is expected to break ground by 2029 and open by 2037. It will include new runways, terminal buildings, and a connection to Harry Reid. The additional airport will increase the airspace that can be used in southern Nevada.
