Las Vegas is bursting at the seams—not just with tourists and showbiz, but also at its main airport, Harry Reid International. With more people flying in every year to catch a show, place a bet, or cheer on a new sports team, the city’s airport is almost at its limit. And the big question floating around now is: does Las Vegas really need a second commercial airport?
Spoiler alert: it’s already in the works.
Vegas is running out of runway—literally
Harry Reid International Airport, previously known as McCarran, has been the main gateway to Las Vegas since 1943. And it’s been doing a solid job, too. In 2023, it welcomed 57.6 million passengers, and by 2024, that number had ticked up again to 58.4 million. But here’s the thing—its official capacity is just 63 million passengers a year, and it’s expected to hit that ceiling by 2030.
Imagine your local supermarket suddenly trying to serve double the customers with the same number of tills. Chaos, right? That’s kind of what’s happening with LAS. And while the airport is squeezing in as many upgrades as it can—like expanding Terminal 1 and reworking traffic flow—it’s only a temporary fix.
A second airport? It’s been a long time coming
Way back in 2000, Congress gave Clark County the green light to buy up land in Ivanpah Valley, about 23 miles south of Vegas, to maybe, someday, build a new airport. Fast forward 25 years, and the site is still just desert scrub and big dreams.
But now, the plans are heating up again. The new facility, called the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport (or SNSA if you’re into acronyms), is finally back on the radar. Construction is expected to start by 2029 and be done by 2037.
Yeah, it’s a long wait. But building an airport isn’t exactly like setting up a tent in the backyard.
Why the sudden urgency?
One word: demand.
Las Vegas drew in 41 million visitors in 2023, and tourism bosses say more than ever are now arriving by plane, not road. And Vegas isn’t just about blackjack and buffets anymore. With big-name events, concerts, and sports teams (hi, Oakland A’s and maybe even an NBA team soon), it’s transforming into a full-on entertainment and sports capital. That brings in way more people—and that means more flights.
James Chrisley, Clark County’s Senior Director of Aviation, summed it up:
“Our 2023 record of 57.6 million passengers showcases a growing demand… this transformation to the sports capital of the world is really drawing more demand to our destination and airport system.”
In short: if they build it, people will come.
Who’s flying where?
LAS is home to over 30 airlines, but one name towers above the rest: Southwest Airlines. They’ve been running the show since the 1990s and still fly nearly half of all passengers going through the airport. Here’s a quick look:
| Airline | Passengers (2023) | Share of traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 21.45 million | 41% |
| Spirit Airlines | 8.1 million | 15% |
| Delta Air Lines | 5 million | 9% |
| American Airlines | 4.3 million | 8% |
| United Airlines | 4 million | 7% |
With these numbers climbing year after year, it’s clear that the existing airport can’t carry this load forever.
The cost of thinking big
No one’s quite sure yet how much the SNSA project will cost, but early guesses are between $6 billion and $14 billion. For comparison, Denver International, which opened in 1995, was a relative bargain at $4.8 billion. If this goes ahead, SNSA could become one of Nevada’s most expensive public projects ever.
That might sound like a lot of money—but with the kind of money Vegas pulls in from tourism, it might just be a smart bet.
Still some unknowns
What’s a bit fuzzy for now is what kind of airport SNSA will be. Will it be all about low-cost carriers? Will it take over the cargo game? Or could it become the go-to place for private jets and charters during big events like the Super Bowl or CES? All that is still up in the air—pun intended.
Officials say those decisions will be made closer to opening day in 2037. For now, the focus is just getting shovels in the ground.
So… does Vegas really need another airport?
Let’s put it this way: when Southwest’s VP of Airport Affairs, Steve Sinseros, says:
“It feels like anything we add into Vegas gets filled… It’s almost this insatiable appetite for people wanting to come and see Vegas.”
…it’s hard to argue otherwise.
Harry Reid is stretched thin. The city’s growing. Tourists aren’t slowing down. And no one’s giving up their carry-on anytime soon.
If Las Vegas wants to keep up with the crowds—and the cash they bring—another airport isn’t just a nice idea. It’s probably a must.
