Wikipedia

Harry Reid International Airport

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McCarran International Airport
Quick Info
Type of Airport Commercial
Run by Clark County, Nevada
Opened 1942
Closest Town Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Distance from Town 5 miles (8 km)
Coordinates 36°05′N 115°09′W / 36.083°N 115.150°W / 36.083; -115.150
IATA LAS ICAO KLAS
Runways
Direction Length Surface
Feet Metres
7L/25R 14505 4395 Paved
7R/25L 10525 3189 Paved
1R/19L 9770 2961 Paved
1l/19R 9770 2961 Paved
Statistics
For 2003
Number of Passengers 36,265,932
Comments on this test infobox

McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas, Nevada, and Clark County, it is located in Paradise. McCarran is owned by Clark County and operated by The Clark County Department of Aviation. It's location, about eight miles south of downtown Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip, provides convenient access to most hotels in the las Vegas Valley.

For 2003 McCarran was one of the world's busiest airports, ranking 12th with 36,265,932 passengers passing through the terminal and 9th with 501,029 aircraft takeoffs and landings. McCarran International Airport uses the IATA Airport Code LAS and the ICAO airport code KLAS.

As of December 2004, Southwest Airlines operated more flights out of McCarran then at any other airport they fly into. Southwest also carries the most passengers in and out of McCarran. America West Airlines, McCarran's second busiest airline, maintains a hub here. Additional airlines that run hubs at McCarran include Allegiant Air.

McCarran Airport is unique in that it has more than 1,000 slot machines throughout the airport terminals.

History

American aviator George Crockett, a descendant of frontiersman Davy Crockett, established Alamo Airport in 1942 on the site currently occupied by the current McCarran International. In 1948, Clark County purchased the airfield from Crockett to establish the Clark County Public Airport, and all commercial operations moved to the site of this airport. Later that year, the airport was renamed McCarran Field for U.S. Senator Pat McCarran, a longtime Nevada politician who authored the Civil Aeronautics Act and played a major role in developing aviation nationwide.

The location for the present terminals was moved from Las Vegas Boulevard South to Paradise Road in 1963. By this time, the airport was serving 1.5 million passengers a year. As tourism continued to rise dramatically, an expansion plan was put into place in 1978 to expand capacity by building more terminals, parking, runways, and passenger facilities. The completion of the newest expansions, the D gates and Terminal 3, would allow McCarran to handle 55 million passengers annually.

In the 1990's all gates and check in counters were upgraded to use a common set of computer equipment. CUTE, Common Use Terminal Equipment, eliminated the need for each airline to have their own equipment and allows the airport to reassign gates and counters without having to deal with individual airline computer systems. McCarran was the first Airport to implement this type of system.

On October 16, 2003 the airport installed SpeedCheckSM kiosks that allow customers to obtain a boarding pass without having to go a specific airline kiosk or counter. McCarren was the first airport to provide this service for multiple airlines from a single kiosk. At the same time, 6 kiosks were activated at the Las Vegas Convention Center allowing convention attendees to get boarding passes on their way to the airport. This system is being enhanced to add printing of baggage tags in 2005.

On Janurary 4, 2005, McCarran Airport became a free wi-fi zone. WiFi is available in all public areas of the airport. Travellers do not need to look for a hot spot! McCarren was the first airport to provide this as a free service for the entire facility.

Terminals

McCarran International Airport has two passenger terminals.

  • Terminal 1 handles all domestic flights (except for ATA) and contains 77 gates in four lettered concourses (A, B, C, and D). A people mover system connects concourse C with the main terminal. A people mover system connects concourse D with the main terminal.
  • Terminal 2 is a separate terminal with 8 gates, that handles all international and charter flights (except for Champion Air) into Las Vegas. A Shuttle Bus operates between Terminals 1 and 2.

===Terminal 1=== (77 Gates) A Gates (16 Gates)

  • Alaska Airlines Gates A21-A23 (Seattle/Tacoma, Portland (OR), Vancouver (Canada), and San Jose (CA))
  • America West Airlines (Departures/Arrivals) Gate A3, A5, A7, A10, A12, and A14 (Albuquerque, Anchorage (Begins May 1) (Seasonal), Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Boise, Boston, Billings, Burbank, Calgary, Cabo San Lucas, Chicago/O'Hare, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Edmonton, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston (Bush), Long Beach, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York/Kennedy, Newark, New Orleans, Oakland, Ontario, Orange County (Santa Ana), Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh (Begins April 2), Portland (OR), Puerto Vallarta, Raleigh/Durham, Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), San Jose Cabo (MX), Seattle/Tacoma, Spokane, Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver (Canada), Washington/Dulles, Washington /Reagan)
  • Champion Air Gates A10-A11 and A14(Charters)
  • Continental Airlines Gates A17-A19 (Cleveland, Houston/InterContinental, Newark)
  • Independence Air Gate A20 (Washington/Dulles)
  • JetBlue Airways Gate A15 (Boston, Long Beach, and New York/Kennedy)
  • Mesa Airlines dba America West Express (Bakersfield (Begins April 3), Billings, Boise, Burbank, Colorado Springs, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Eugene, Fresno, Long Beach (Begins April 29), Los Angeles, Medford, Oakland, Oklahoma City (Begins May 6), Omaha, Ontario (California), Orange County (Santa Ana), Portland (OR), Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Spokane, Tucson)

B Gates (17 Gates)

  • America West (Departures/Arrivals) Gates B1, B2, B6, B9-B12, B14, B15, B17, and B19-B25 (SEE ABOVE)

C Gates (19 Gates)

  • Aloha Airlines Gate C1 (Honolulu)
  • Southwest Airlines Gates C1, C2, C4, C5, C7-C9, C11, C12, C14, C16, C18, C19, and C21-C27 (Albany, Albuquerque, Amarillo, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Birmingham, Boise, Buffalo/Niagara Falls, Burbank, Chicago/Midway, Cleveland, Columbus, El Paso, Hartford/Springfield, Houston/Hobby, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Little Rock, Long Island/Islip (New York Area), Los Angeles, Louisville, Lubbock, Manchester, Midland/Odessa, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk/Southern Virginia, Oakland, Omaha, Ontario, Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh/Durham, Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle/Tacoma, Spokane, Tampa Bay, Tucson, and Tulsa)

D Gates (25 Gates)

  • AirTran Airways Gate D32 (Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth)
  • Alaska Airlines Gates D25-D26 (Anchorage, Portland (OR), Seattle/Tacoma, Vancouver(Canada))
  • Allegiant Air Gate D4 (Bellingham, Bismarck, Cedar Rapids, Colorado Springs, Des Moines, Ft. Collins/Loveland, Fresno, Lansing, Madison, Missoula (begins March 31), Oklahoma City, Pasco/Tri-Cities (begins April 7), Peoria, Sioux Falls, Springfield (Missouri), Wichita)
  • American Airlines Gates D7, D8, D10, and D11 (Boston, Chicago/O'Hare, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, San Jose (CA), St. Louis)
  • Continental Airlines Gates D19-D21 (Cleveland, Houston/Intercontinental, Newark)
  • Delta Airlines Gates D36, D38, and D40-D42 (Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (Covington, KY), Ft. Lauderdale, New York/Kennedy, Norfolk, Orlando, Salt Lake City)
  • Frontier Airlines Gates D3 and D5 (Denver)
  • JetBlue Airways Gate D16 (Boston, Long Beach, New York/Kennedy)
  • Midwest Airlines Gate D9 (Milwaukee)
  • Northwest Airlines Gates D9, D12, and D14 (Detroit, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul)
  • Delta dba Song Gates D36, D38, D40, and D41 (Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, New York/Kennedy, Orlando)
  • SkyWest dba United Express (Bakersfield, Fresno, Palm Springs)
  • SkyWest dba Delta Connection Gate D36 (Salt Lake City)
  • Spirit Airlines Gate D36 (Detroit)
  • Sun Country Gate D41-D42 (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
  • United dba Ted Gates D33-D35, D37, D39, and D43 (Chicago/O'Hare, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington/Dulles)
  • USAirways Gates D1, D3, D5, and D32 (Charlotte, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh)

Terminal 2

(8 Gates, 3 for international flights)

Cargo Terminal

One terminal is devoted to cargo operations.

Other Terminal Operations

  • Signature Aviation
  • Executive Terminal
  • Several Helicopter Companies
  • It also is alleged to have a JANET Terminal, which serves the infamous Area 51, the Nevada Test Site, and other goverment facilities.

Airport Services

Airport Museum

The free Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum is located on the Esplanade, Level 2, above the Baggage Claim area. This small museum is open 24/7 and concentrates on Las Vegas airline history. Items on display include a copy of the first emergency vehicle that was used on the airfield. Some of the other concourses and checkin areas also have small displays.

A small branch of the museum is located at the D gates.

Airport Art

Check out the painted tile walls when you arrive at the D Gates people mover station.

After you go upto the D gates terminal level, take a look back down to the station level and you will find an aviation map for the Las Vegas area in the floor.

Ground Transportation

Buses

The 108 Paradise/Fremont Street Experience Monorail Connector heads north to the Downtown CAT Terminal.

The 109 Maryland Parkway-Airport Connector CAT Route provides 24 hour service to the Airport. The Southbound Departure heads to the South Strip Transfer Terminal where passangers can board the 301 Strip Local service or the 301 Strip Express (5 stops, Tropicana-Sahara) service. Ask for a transfer when boarding or buy a $5 24 hour Pass when you board.

Rental cars

Local street access to the airport is from Paradise Avenue.

Interstate access is from Interstate 215 about two miles east of Interstate 15.

Limousines

Limousines are available for hire near baggage pickup. If a party consists of a group of six or more people, a limo can be a less expensive choice. Since limos are hired by the hour, one can request a brief tour on the way to one's hotel for no extra cost to use up the hour.

Shuttles

Several companies operate shuttle bus service to most of the hotels in the area. These shuttles are less expensive than taxis, but visitors may be on the shuttle for a while if their hotel happens to be the shuttle's last stop.

Taxis

Taxis are available around the clock at the bagage pick up level.

Construction

Concourse B and Concourse C Connector

There will be a bridge or an underground tunnel built between Concourse B and Concourse C to provide Southwest with some of America West's gates during the day (most of America West's Operations are at night). America West will still be utilizing all of the Concourse B gates and their slots at Concourse A.

Concourse D

The third wing of the D Gates is scheduled to open in April of 2005.

Construction of the NW wing of the D gates will complete the D gates expansion. This project is currently scheduled for sometime after 2009.

Terminal 3

A new terminal is in the planning stage. The terminal will be located 'behind' the D Gates in the vicinity of Russell Road. It has not been decided if this new terminal will be for international flights, to replace Terminal 2, or for domestic flights. Terminal 3 will use the last available space, so no new terminals are likely after this expansion. Completion is currently planned for 2009.

Rental Car Facility

By mid-2006 all rental car operations will be moved from the airport to a new off airport location. This new facility may also be used as a Bus Maintance Facility for the shuttle buses.

Baggage Facilities

A major construction project is underway to remove the TSA xray machines from the lobby to a secure area behind the checkin counters. The project will totally replace the baggage facilities in Terminal 1. The portion behind Southwest is scheduled to be competed later in 2005. Construction will continue in segments to the other end of Terminal 1 with a planned completion date in 2007. This project will also continue in Terminal 2. This upgrade will also provide for supporting rfid tags on all checked luggage. This would be a first for a US airport.

Apron Rebuild

The concrete aprons at Concourse A and Concourse B are being replaced in phases. Completion date is not know.

Ground Operations

US Airways takes care of Frontier Airlines.

Delta Airlines/Song Airlines takes care of Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Independence Air ,and JetBlue Airways

Northwest Airlines takes care of Midwest Airlines

All of the other airlines provide their own ground operations personel.

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