Harry Reid Airport in Las Vegas logs second-busiest month in October with 5.3 million passengers

Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas recorded its second-highest monthly passenger count in history this October, with nearly 5.3 million travelers passing through its gates. While this marks a slight 3.5% decline from the record set in October 2023, the figure highlights the airport's continued prominence as a hub for travel and tourism.

The Clark County Department of Aviation, which released the statistics on Tuesday, noted that October has consistently been the airport’s peak month. Last year’s record of 5.5 million passengers surpassed the prior high of 5.2 million set in October 2022.

Tourism officials attribute October’s strong passenger numbers to major events and favorable weather conditions. The month began with the Global Gaming Expo and concluded with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, an automotive trade event that attracts over 100,000 attendees.

Southern Nevada also hosted two home games for the Las Vegas Raiders, featuring matchups against Pittsburgh and Kansas City, alongside high-profile entertainment residencies, including performances by The Eagles at the Sphere.

While domestic passenger numbers fell by 4.4% compared to last year, totaling 4.8 million, international travel surged, with 341,390 passengers representing an 8.3% year-over-year increase. General aviation terminals and helicopter tours also saw a 7.5% uptick, with 102,638 passengers in October.

Cumulatively, the first ten months of 2024 showed a 1.7% rise in overall passenger traffic, reaching 48.8 million. Domestic traffic grew modestly by 1.1% to 44.9 million, while international traffic soared by 13.3% to 3.1 million. However, west-side helicopter activity decreased by 3.5% to 795,438 passengers for the year.

Among the top five airlines operating at Harry Reid International, four experienced declines in October. Southwest Airlines, the market leader, reported a 4.4% drop to 1.9 million passengers. Spirit Airlines fell by 5.3% to 761,778, Delta Air Lines decreased by 8.3% to 439,609, and American Airlines declined by 1.5% to 413,609. United Airlines, however, bucked the trend with a 3.1% increase, serving 399,528 passengers.

Internationally, Canada’s WestJet led with 88,711 passengers, a 2.7% decrease, while Air Canada followed with 61,088 passengers, reflecting a 16.5% increase. British Airways, the busiest overseas carrier, saw a 9.3% rise to 30,699 passengers. Aer Lingus, which recently launched direct flights to Dublin, carried 1,230 passengers in its inaugural month of operations.