Nevada: Clark County backs major expansion of Harry Reid International Airport

Clark County commissioners have given initial approval to a significant expansion and modernization project for Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport, the seventh-busiest airport in North America. The plan, presented by the County Department of Aviation, seeks to increase the number of gates, improve passenger access, and upgrade transportation facilities.

The project is expected to address increasing congestion at the airport, which has seen record-breaking passenger traffic in recent years.

The proposed expansion will focus on maximizing the capacity of the landlocked airport, while the construction of a new airport in the Ivanpah Valley, Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport, remains in the early stages. That facility, located 30 miles south of Reid, is not expected to be completed until 2037.

Harry Reid International Airport recorded 57.6 million passengers in 2023, surpassing the previous year’s 52.6 million. From May to July this year, the airport averaged over 5 million passengers per month, with the highest volume in October 2023, reaching 5.4 million passengers. Passenger traffic is up nearly 3% through August 2024.

The expansion plan includes increasing the number of gates at Terminal 1 from 39 to 65, with a redesign of the A and B gates and the construction of new gates on land that previously housed the now-demolished Terminal 2. The phased demolition of existing Terminal 1 concourses will follow, with the new terminals designed in a pier-style layout to accommodate more gates and larger passenger holding areas.

Other enhancements will include new signage, wayfinding technology, and other essential amenities. The proposal also calls for new parking areas and improvements to the airport's roadways. Some of the project’s funding will come from user fees paid by airlines, passengers, and concessions, along with revenue from airport slot machines. The airport may also issue bonds for the project.

Rosemary Vassiliadis, the Director of the Department of Aviation, explained that the next step involves a meeting between airport officials and airline executives in December to discuss the concept. "We see this as a continuous project,” Vassiliadis said, emphasizing the importance of considering input from airlines before finalizing the plan.

The expansion is expected to take up to four years to complete once it is fully approved and funded. The last major development at the airport, the construction of Terminal 3, was completed in 2012 after four years of work and cost $2.4 billion.

County officials are optimistic about the project’s potential to alleviate ongoing challenges at the airport. Commissioner Jim Gibson said: “There’s a lot that needs to be done at Harry Reid right now, and it’s a relief to me that we’re on a pathway now to accomplish that.” 

The plan also involves removing a no-longer-needed flood detention basin, which will create additional aircraft parking. Senior Director of Aviation James Chrisley highlighted the importance of this move in enhancing the airport’s operational capacity.