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The airport code for Las Vegas is LAS, which is used to identify Harry Reid International Airport (formerly McCarran International Airport). This three-letter code is used across all aspects of air travel, from reservations to navigation and ground services at the airport. Starting May 7, 2025, travelers to Las Vegas must have a Real ID Act-compliant identification, such as a REAL ID-compliant license, passport, or other acceptable forms of ID, to fly on commercial aircraft within the United States. This has raised some concerns about privacy and the potential for a national identification card system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Code | LAS |
| Name | Harry Reid International Airport |
| Previous Names | McCarran International Airport, McCarran Field, Alamo Field |
| Location | 5 miles/8km south of downtown Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise |
| Area | 2,800 acres/4.4 sq miles/11.3 km sq |
| Terminals | 2 |
| Gates | 110 |
| Gate Areas/Concourses | 5 |
| Airlines | 30+ |
| Airlines Using as Operating Base | Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, JSX, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines |
| Number of Runways | 4 |
| Year of Opening | 1943 |
| Year of Name Change to Harry Reid International Airport | 2021 |
| ID Requirement for Domestic US Travel | REAL ID-compliant license or identification card, enhanced driver's license, passport, or other acceptable form of ID |
| ID Requirement for International Travel | Passport and possibly a visa |
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Harry Reid International Airport
The airport first deployed computer systems known as common-use terminal equipment (CUTE) at gates and check-in counters. In 2003, it became the first airport in the country to install common-use self-service kiosks, which customers use to check in and obtain their boarding passes. In 2005, the airport began implementing a baggage-tracking system based on radio-frequency identification (RFID).
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Airport codes
The airport code for Las Vegas is LAS, which represents Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran International Airport. This IATA code is used across all aspects of air travel, including reservations, navigation, and ground services at the airport. When booking a flight to Las Vegas, for example, entering LAS ensures that you are flying to the correct airport. LAS may also appear on flight tickets, boarding passes, baggage tags, and departure and arrival boards.
The Las Vegas airport code has evolved from LVS to LAS, reflecting the city's growing importance as an international destination. The airport originally began as McCarran Field, named after U.S. Senator Pat McCarran, a key figure in aviation policy. As air travel expanded and standardised under the three-letter system, LAS became the official IATA code for McCarran International Airport.
In 2021, the airport was renamed Harry Reid International Airport in honour of the former Nevada senator. Despite the name change, the LAS code was retained for consistency and convenience. This continuity is advantageous for travellers, airlines, and travel services, maintaining the historical association between the airport and the LAS code.
It is worth noting that starting May 7, 2025, the REAL ID Act will take effect in the United States. This act requires domestic US travellers aged 18 and above to possess a state-issued REAL ID-compliant license, enhanced driver's license, or another acceptable form of identification for flying within the country. International travellers to Las Vegas are not required to have a REAL ID-compliant ID card but must carry a passport and, in some cases, a visa.
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IATA codes
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) assigns airport codes, also known as IATA location identifiers, IATA station codes, or simply location identifiers, to airports and metropolitan areas worldwide. Airports are designated by unique three-letter geocode identifiers, which are primarily derived from the names of the airports and cities they serve.
The IATA code system was established to standardise airport identification and improve efficiency in air travel. In the early days of aviation, airports were assigned two-letter codes, but as the industry expanded, the system evolved into the three-letter format used today. This expansion aimed to accommodate the growing number of airports and destinations and to prevent confusion between airports with similar names.
While most airports use IATA codes, there are some exceptions. For example, some airports in the United States use FAA codes instead of ICAO codes. Additionally, some airports in New Zealand use codes containing the letter "Z" to distinguish themselves from similarly named airports in other countries.
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REAL ID Act
The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, established a national set of standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses and identification cards. The Act sets minimum security standards that must be met for state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards to be accepted by federal agencies for official purposes. These official purposes include entering nuclear power plants and boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft.
From May 7, 2025, every resident of a state or territory will need to present a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card, or another acceptable form of identification, to access federal facilities, enter nuclear power plants, and board commercial aircraft within the United States. Acceptable alternative forms of identification include a passport, passport card, or a state-issued Enhanced Driver's License. Children under 18 are exempt from this requirement when travelling with an adult who has acceptable identification.
The REAL ID Act does not require individuals to present identification when it is not currently required to access a federal facility, such as the public areas of the Smithsonian. It also does not prohibit an agency from accepting other forms of identification documents, such as a U.S. passport. Additionally, a REAL ID card is not necessary for other purposes such as driving, voting, banking, or applying for benefits or employment.
The REAL ID Act is relevant to Las Vegas Airport (IATA: LAS) as it is the primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley. From May 7, 2025, travellers flying within the United States to or from Las Vegas Airport will need to ensure they have a REAL ID-compliant identification card, or an acceptable alternative, to board their flight.
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Airport history
Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran International Airport, is the primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley. It is located five miles (8 km) south of downtown Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise, Nevada, and covers 2,800 acres (4.4 sq mi; 11.3 km2) of land. The airport is named after the late U.S. congressman and senator from Nevada, Harry Reid.
The airport first opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field, built by aviator and flight instructor George Crockett in 1942. Crockett named it in honour of his forefather, Davy Crockett, who had fought in the Battle of the Alamo. Alamo Field initially catered to general aviation and included three gravel runways, a flight school, and a terminal building. All commercial airlines flew into the Las Vegas Army Airfield, sharing the facility with the Army Air Forces, which had been operating an air base there since the attack on Pearl Harbor. The base closed in 1946, and the following year, voters approved a bond to fund construction work that would enable Alamo Field to handle commercial operations. With the help of U.S. Senator Pat McCarran of Nevada, the county finalised a deal to purchase Crockett's airfield in 1948, renaming it McCarran Field on December 19 of that year.
The growth of the Las Vegas casino industry in the 1950s fuelled a rise in air traffic. The city went from receiving 36,000 passengers in 1948 to nearly one million in 1959. In 1960, United Airlines became the first carrier to offer jet flights to Las Vegas, and a new terminal was built on Paradise Road to meet the growing demand. In 1968, slot machines were installed at the airport, a feature that is now unique to Las Vegas and Reno airports in the United States.
In 1979, there were 14 airlines at the airport, and expansion plans were launched, including the construction of an esplanade, larger baggage claim facilities, a parking garage, and the introduction of a people mover system. In 1991, Terminal 2 opened to international traffic, along with an additional parking garage and a tunnel linking the airport to the Las Vegas Beltway. The airport underwent further expansion between 2003 and 2005, becoming the first airport in the country to install common-use self-service kiosks and implementing a baggage-tracking system based on radio-frequency identification (RFID).
In 2021, the airport officially changed its name from McCarran International Airport to Harry Reid International Airport in honour of the former Nevada senator. The airport code LAS, however, remained unchanged to maintain historical and practical continuity for travellers, airlines, and travel services. Today, Harry Reid International Airport is served by over 30 airlines and handles a significant volume of domestic and international traffic.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport code for Las Vegas is LAS, which is used to identify Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran International Airport.
The REAL ID Act is a US law that requires all domestic US travelers aged 18 and above to possess a state-issued REAL ID-compliant license or identification card, an enhanced driver's license, or another acceptable form of ID (such as a passport) when flying within the US. This law comes into effect on May 7, 2025.
The fee for a Nevada REAL ID is $8.50 for a driver's license, $7.50 for an ID card, and $12.50 for a commercial license.
