Roberta Aguirre
Harry Reid International Airport, the primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley, has undergone several name changes in its 80-year history. The airport first opened in 1943 as Alamo Field, catering to general aviation. In 1948, it was renamed McCarran Field, and in 2021, it was renamed again to honour Senator Harry Reid.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current Name | Harry Reid International Airport |
| Former Names | McCarran International Airport, Alamo Field, Alamo Airport, McCarran Field |
| Location | 5 miles (8 km) south of downtown Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Owner | Clark County |
| Operator | Clark County's Department of Aviation |
| Named After | Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid |
| Number of Runways | 4 |
| Number of Terminals | 2 |
| Number of Gate Areas | 5 |
| Number of Gates | 110 |
| Number of Concourses | 5 |
| Area | 2,800 acres |
| Year Opened | 1943 |
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What You'll Learn
Harry Reid International Airport
The airport first opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field, catering to general aviation. It was built by flight instructor George Crockett, who named it in honour of his forefather, Davy Crockett, who fought in the Battle of the Alamo. At the time, it consisted of three gravel runways, a flight school, and a terminal building.
In December 1948, the airport was renamed McCarran Field, after U.S. Senator Pat McCarran, who was instrumental in developing aviation across the county. Commercial airlines shifted to the airport from the Las Vegas Army Airfield, and passenger counts increased significantly in the 1950s, leading to the construction of a new terminal.
In 2021, the airport was renamed Harry Reid International Airport in honour of former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who represented Nevada in the Senate for three decades. Reid passed away in December 2021, about two weeks after the airport was dedicated in his name.
Despite the official name change, some "McCarran" references remained in the airport as of 2024, including signage, out-of-order signs, trash cans, and employee clothing.
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McCarran International Airport
The primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley in Nevada, USA, was called the McCarran International Airport before being renamed the Harry Reid International Airport in 2021. The airport, located five miles (8 km) south of downtown Las Vegas, covers 2,800 acres of land and has four runways and two terminals with five gate areas.
The airport opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field, catering to general aviation. It was built by aviator and Nevada State Airmen Association founder, George Crockett, in 1942. Crockett, who also owned the airfield, named it in honour of his forefather, Davy Crockett, a fighter in the Battle of the Alamo.
In December 1948, the airport was renamed McCarran Field, after U.S. senator Pat McCarran, who played a significant role in developing aviation across the county. Commercial airlines shifted to the airport from the Las Vegas Army Airfield. The growth of the Las Vegas casino industry in the 1950s fuelled a rise in air traffic, with nearly a million passengers passing through the airport in 1959.
In 2017, there were calls to change the airport's name due to Senator McCarran's record of racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia. After a donation of $2.7 million from former Diamond Resorts CEO and founder Stephen Cloobeck, the airport was officially renamed in December 2021, two weeks before the death of Senator Harry Reid, who represented Nevada in the Senate for three decades.
Despite the official name change, references to 'McCarran' and 'McCarran International Airport' remain, nearly three years after the renaming. These references are found on various signage, including welcome signs, out-of-order signs, trash cans, and employee clothing.
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Alamo Field
The Las Vegas airport now known as Harry Reid International Airport has undergone several name changes in its 80-year history. The airport opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field, an airfield built by flight instructor George Crockett in 1942. Crockett named the airfield in honour of his forefather, Davy Crockett, who fought in the Battle of the Alamo.
In the meantime, Clark County entered into negotiations with Crockett and held a bond election to fund construction work that would enable Alamo Field to handle commercial operations. Voters approved the bond in 1947, and the county finalised a deal to purchase Crockett's airfield the following year. On 19 or 20 December 1948, the airport was renamed McCarran Field in honour of U.S. Senator Pat McCarran, who had been instrumental in developing aviation across the county.
In 2021, the airport was renamed Harry Reid International Airport in honour of former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who represented Nevada in the Senate for three decades.
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$14.72 $24.95
McCarran Federal Airport Act
The McCarran Federal Airport Act, passed in 1946, set aside $7 million for airport development in Nevada. Before this Act, the primary airport in Las Vegas was located where Nellis Air Force Base is today, and was called McCarran Field. The original McCarran Field held its name from 1941 to 1947 until the Air Force required additional space.
The airport now known as Harry Reid International Airport has undergone several name changes in its history. It was first called Alamo Field when it opened in January 1943, catering to general aviation. In December 1948, the airport was renamed McCarran Field, and commercial airlines shifted their operations there from the Las Vegas Army Airfield. The airport was renamed to honour U.S. Senator Pat McCarran, who was instrumental in developing aviation across the county.
In 2017, an attempt was made to change the airport's name due to Senator McCarran's controversial record, which included racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia. The airport was officially renamed in 2021 to honour former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who had represented Nevada in the Senate for three decades. Despite the official name change, some "`McCarran`" references remain, such as signage and employee clothing.
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Nellis Air Force Base
The Las Vegas airport was previously called McCarran International Airport, named after U.S. senator Pat McCarran. The airport opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field, which was built by flight instructor George Crockett. Crockett named the airfield after his forefather, Davy Crockett, who fought in the Battle of the Alamo.
In December 1948, the airport was renamed McCarran Field, after Senator McCarran, who played a significant role in developing aviation across the county. The airport was expanded in the 1950s to accommodate the growing number of passengers, fuelled by the booming Las Vegas casino industry.
In 2021, the airport was renamed Harry Reid International Airport, honouring the late U.S. senator from Nevada, Harry Reid.
Now, about Nellis Air Force Base:
In the late 1930s, with the looming threat of global war, the U.S. Army Air Corps recognised the need for an aerial gunnery base. Nevada, with its vast desert landscapes, provided the ideal location for unrestricted gunnery backfields and remote training areas.
The Las Vegas Airport site was selected in 1941, and construction began using available resources. The base became operational in 1943, initially catering to general aviation with gravel runways and a small terminal.
After World War II, the base was temporarily inactivated but was reactivated in 1947 as a training centre for bomber crews. From 1951 to 1958, the base underwent significant reconstruction, including strengthening and lengthening runways and adding permanent housing.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport in Las Vegas is currently called Harry Reid International Airport.
The airport was previously called McCarran International Airport, named after U.S. senator Pat McCarran.
The original name of the airport was Alamo Field, also known as Alamo Airport. It was first opened in 1942 by aviator George Crockett and was named in honour of his forefather, Davy Crockett, who fought in the Battle of the Alamo.
