How does McCarran International Airport keep up with the growth in Southern Nevada?
To meet the demands of Southern Nevada’s growth, in terms of both local residents and the Valley’s visitors, the Clark County Department of Aviation (CCDOA) has plans to increase the size and capacity of its existing McCarran Airport facilities and develop an entirely new supplemental airport facility. In calendar year 2008, McCarran International Airport handled more than 44.3 million passengers. This puts McCarran in the top 10 busiest airports in the United States.
What’s the most critical aspect of increasing McCarran’s capacity?
Bringing additional passengers through our airport takes more than just adding flights. It is imperative that the balance between the airfield, the terminal, and the roadway systems be maintained. It is not enough that our airfield can accommodate aircraft; we must have the terminal facilities (aircraft gates, ticketing, and baggage claim) in place to handle passengers’ needs, and roadways to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of private and commercial vehicles. At this time, in mid-2006, adding more terminal capacity is our most critical challenge. Therefore, we are currently constructing 9 new gates in the D Concourse and designing the new 14-gate Terminal 3.
Is the construction of new Strip resorts an indicator of growth at McCarran?
Nearly 50% of all visitors to Southern Nevada travel through McCarran International Airport. Every new hotel room built means an additional 320 passengers annually at the Airport. This formula has held true for the last 2 decades (20 years). There are over 30,000 new hotel rooms scheduled to be completed in the next 4 to 5 years. This means McCarran can expect an additional 10 million passengers by 2011.
What has McCarran done to accommodate this phenomenal growth?
McCarran has accomplished numerous expansion projects:
· Extended Runway 07L/25R - The third longest civilian runway in the country
· Runway 07R/25L - Constructed/extended to over 10,000 feet
· Reconstructed Runway 01L/19R - To accommodate air carrier operations
· Terminal 2 - Remodel of Charter and International terminal
· C Gates renovation - Added four gates
· 6,000+ Space Parking Garage - Construction
· Bag Claim and Ticketing - Expansions
· 26-gate “D” Concourse - Satellite concourse linked to Terminal 1
· Airport Connector Roadway and Tunnel - Freeway access via I-215 and I-15
· Air Cargo Ramp and Buildings - Developed with a third party
· D Gates NE Wing - Added 10 gates to Concourse
· North Las Vegas Airport - Terminal building, runways, and aircraft parking area
· Henderson Executive Airport – Acquisition and re-construction
What can we expect during the years ahead?
McCarran’s sustainable capacity is estimated at 53.6 million annual passengers. The airfield can handle that number of flights, but the terminal and airport roadway system, in their current form, cannot. When an airport’s facilities become out of balance like this, delays can occur. Delays result in increased processing time for the traveling public and an increase in airline operating costs. The Department’s goal is to bring all three components in balance by adding passenger boarding gates, terminal facilities, and roadway improvements within McCarran’s limited space. As with past development, future construction projects are demand-driven and will only be built if and when activity levels warrant additional facilities.
What major projects are planned for the next decade?
- Terminal 3 - A new terminal for scheduled carriers; a “unit” terminal including 14 passenger gates, bag claim, ticketing and parking facilities (estimated early-2011)
- Roadway system improvements – concurrent with development of Terminal 3
How will the valley’s other airports help McCarran handle growth?
In addition to McCarran, there are four “general aviation” airports operated by the CCDOA (North Las Vegas Airport, Henderson Executive Airport, Jean Sport Aviation Center, and Overton Municipal Airport) designed to handle smaller aircraft. North Las Vegas Airport ranks as the second busiest airport in Nevada in terms of operations (aircraft take-offs and landings).
McCarran’s successful handling of the projected 53.6 million passengers hinges on the ability of the North Las Vegas Airport and the Henderson Executive Airport to meet future growth in general aviation activity and attract a portion of the existing general aviation activity away from McCarran.
What happens when demand at McCarran exceeds 53 million passengers?
Should demand warrant, the DOA is planning to develop a supplemental airport in Southern Nevada on approximately 6,000 acres of land. On June 18, 2004, the CCDOA purchased this land from the Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Sale of the property was made possible when legislation was signed by President Clinton on October 20, 2000.
Located south of Las Vegas, between Jean and Primm, the Ivanpah Valley site has the available airspace, good terrain and topography, surrounding land use compatibility, and surface access from I-15, SR-604 and the Union Pacific Railroad.
When will we need the new airport?
When McCarran reaches its sustainable capacity of 53 million passengers.
What’s happening right now?
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is underway. The DOA is also taking preliminary looks at future surface access options and storm water drainage issues. Construction will begin once an environmental Record of Decision is issued.