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The airport code for Las Vegas, Nevada, is LAS, which is the internationally recognized identifier for Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran International Airport. This IATA code is used for booking flights, checking flight statuses, and navigating airports. Starting May 7, 2025, travelers to Las Vegas must have a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card, such as a passport, to fly within the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Code | LAS |
| Name | Harry Reid International Airport |
| Previous Names | McCarran International Airport, McCarran Field, Alamo Field |
| Location | 5 miles (8 km) south of downtown Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise |
| Area | 2,800 acres (4.4 sq mi; 11.3 km2) |
| Owner | Clark County |
| Operator | Clark County's Department of Aviation |
| Terminals | 2 |
| Concourses | 5 |
| Gates | 110 |
| Airlines | Over 30, including Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, JSX, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines |
| Number of Passengers (2024) | 58.4 million |
| Boarding Requirements (From May 7, 2025) | REAL ID-compliant license or identification card, enhanced driver's license, passport, or other acceptable form of ID |
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What You'll Learn
Harry Reid International Airport
In February 2021, the Clark County Commission voted unanimously to rename the airport after U.S. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. The official name change took place in December 2021, honouring the late U.S. congressman and senator from Nevada. Despite the name change, the airport code LAS, which plays a crucial role in air travel, was maintained for historical and practical continuity.
The airport is served by over 30 airlines, including Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, JSX, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. In 2024, the airport saw a record-breaking number of passengers, with over 58.4 million passing through. Harry Reid International Airport offers international flights to cities in Asia, Europe, and North America.
When travelling to or from Harry Reid International Airport, it is important to have the correct identification documents. For domestic U.S. travel, individuals aged 18 and above need a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card, an enhanced driver's license, or a passport. International travellers to Las Vegas require a passport and may need a visa depending on their country of origin.
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IATA code: LAS
The IATA code LAS is the internationally recognised identifier for Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran International Airport. LAS is used across all aspects of air travel, from reservations to navigation and ground services at the airport.
Harry Reid International Airport is the primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley, a metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Nevada. It is located five miles (8 km; 4 nmi) south of downtown Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise, and covers 2,800 acres (4.4 sq mi; 11.3 km2) of land. The airport is owned by Clark County and operated by the county's Department of Aviation. It is named after the late U.S. congressman and senator from Nevada, Harry Reid.
Harry Reid International Airport has a total of 110 gates across two passenger terminals, which are numbered 1 and 3, and a satellite concourse called Concourse D. Terminal 1 contains three concourses labelled A, B, and C. Terminal 3 houses the E gates and handles international arrivals. Terminal 3 and Concourse D are able to receive international flights, and a tunnel links the international gates in Concourse D to the customs checkpoint. The airport is served by over 30 airlines and is an operating base for Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, JSX, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines.
In the early days of aviation, airports were given two-letter codes, but as the aviation industry grew, these codes expanded to three letters under the IATA system. In the case of Las Vegas, the airport originally began as McCarran Field, named after U.S. Senator Pat McCarran, who played a major role in aviation policy. The airport initially had the code LVS, a simpler form representing Las Vegas. However, as air travel expanded and standardised under the three-letter system, LAS was assigned as the official IATA code for McCarran International Airport. The evolution of the Las Vegas airport code from LVS to LAS reflects the growing importance of the city as an international destination.
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REAL ID Act requirements
The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, established minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards. It prohibits certain federal agencies, including the TSA, from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards.
From May 7, 2025, every state and territory resident in the US will need to present a REAL ID-compliant license or ID, or another acceptable form of identification, to access federal facilities, enter nuclear power plants, and board commercial aircraft operating within the US. Acceptable alternative forms of identification include a passport, passport card, or state-issued enhanced driver's license. Children under 18 are exempt from this requirement when travelling within the US if they are accompanied by an adult with acceptable identification.
The REAL ID Act does not require individuals to present identification where it is not currently required to access a federal facility, such as to enter the public areas of the Smithsonian. It also does not prohibit an agency from accepting other forms of identity documents, such as a US passport or passport card. The Act only applies to domestic US travel and does not cover international travel, including border crossings into Canada or Mexico, or international sea cruise travel.
To obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or ID, individuals must visit their State's driver's licensing agency and provide proof of identity, name changes, their Social Security number, and two residency documents. These documents must be valid originals or certified copies.
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History of the airport
The airport code for Las Vegas is LAS, which is the identifier for Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran International Airport. The IATA code, LAS, is used for reservations, navigation, and ground services at the airport.
The first iteration of Harry Reid International Airport was built on an airfield that was once known as Anderson Field, which opened in 1920. Over the next decade, ownership changed hands several times before Clark County city decided to buy the land and build a more modern terminal. In 1941, it was named McCarran Field after Nevada Senator Pat McCarran, who helped obtain federal funding for the purchase of the land and construction of the terminal.
In 1942, aviator George Crockett built Alamo Field, which is where Harry Reid Airport is today. Crockett named it in honour of his forefather, Davy Crockett, who fought in the Battle of the Alamo. The airfield opened in January 1943, catering to general aviation. In 1946, the Las Vegas Army Airfield base closed, and the military said it was amenable to reopening the base, but they wanted the commercial airlines to move elsewhere. Crockett allowed them to use his airfield, so the Clark County Commission entered into negotiations with him.
In 1947, voters approved a bond to fund construction work that would enable Alamo Field to handle commercial operations. The following year, the county finalised a deal with Crockett to purchase his airfield. On 19 December 1948, the airport was renamed McCarran Field and began receiving passenger flights. In the 1950s, the Las Vegas casino industry started booming, and the airport began handling more passengers. By 1959, it served 959,601 passengers, with 47 departures on weekdays.
In September 1960, United Airlines commenced jetliner operations from the airport using Boeing 720s. To meet the growing demand, a new terminal was built on Paradise Road, opening on 15 March 1963. In 1968, slot machines were first installed at the airport, and it became one of only two airports in the United States with slot machines inside the terminals.
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Airlines that use the airport
Harry Reid International Airport (IATA: LAS, ICAO: KLAS, FAA LID: LAS), formerly known as McCarran International Airport, is served by over 30 airlines. It is the primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley, a metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Nevada. The airport is located 8 km (5 mi) south of downtown Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise.
Some of the famous airlines that use Harry Reid International Airport include Allegiant Air, Avelo Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JSX, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. Southwest Airlines became the dominant carrier at the airport in the 1990s. Allegiant Air moved its headquarters to Las Vegas in the 2000s.
In addition to these, other airlines that operate at the airport include:
- Virgin Atlantic
- Volaris
- United Airlines
- Sun Country Airlines
- Northern Pacific Airways
- WestJet
- VivaAerobus
- Lynx Air
- Flair Airlines
- Eurowings Discover
- Condor
- Edelweiss Air
- Delta Airlines
- Breeze Airways
- Air Canada
- AeroMexico
- Alaska Airlines
- Avianca
- British Airways
- Canada Jetlines
- Korean Air
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JetBlue
- KLM
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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.
In the early days of aviation, airports were given two-letter codes. However, as the industry grew, these codes expanded to three letters under the IATA system. The Las Vegas airport code was originally LVS, but it was changed to LAS to conform to the new three-letter system.
The REAL ID Act is a federal law that requires all domestic U.S. travellers aged 18 and above to possess a state-issued REAL ID-compliant license or ID card, enhanced driver's license, or another acceptable form of ID (like a passport) for commercial air travel within the U.S. This law comes into effect on May 7, 2025. International travellers to Las Vegas do not need a REAL ID-compliant ID card but will need a passport and possibly a visa.
To obtain a Nevada REAL ID, you must visit a DMV office in person and present proof of identity, name change(s), your Social Security number, and two residency documents. There is a fee associated with obtaining a REAL ID: $8.50 for a driver's license, $7.50 for an ID card, and $12.50 for a commercial license.
