Owais Crawford
On December 14, 2021, Las Vegas Airport officially changed its name from McCarran International Airport to Harry Reid International Airport. The airport, which first opened in 1943, was originally named after Nevada Senator Pat McCarran. However, in 2021, the Clark County Commission approved the name change due to Senator McCarran's history of racist, antisemitic, and xenophobic views. The new name honours former senator Harry Reid, who spent 30 years in the Senate and worked to build and grow the airport during his time in Congress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Old Name | McCarran International Airport |
| New Name | Harry Reid International Airport |
| Previous Names | Alamo Field, McCarran Field |
| Year of Name Change | 2021 |
| Date of Name Change | 14th of December |
| Year of Opening | 1943 |
| Previous Namesake | U.S. Senator Pat McCarran |
| New Namesake | U.S. Senator Harry Reid |
| Owner | Clark County |
| Operator | Clark County's Department of Aviation |
| Location | 5 miles south of downtown Las Vegas |
| Area | 2,800 acres |
| Number of Runways | 4 |
| Number of Terminals | 2 |
| Number of Gate Areas | 5 |
| Unique Features | One of two airports in the U.S. with slot machines inside the terminals |
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What You'll Learn
Harry Reid International Airport
On December 14, 2021, Las Vegas Airport officially changed its name from McCarran International Airport to Harry Reid International Airport. The airport, located 8 km (5 mi) south of downtown Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise, covers 2,800 acres (4.4 sq mi; 11.3 km2) of land. With four runways and two terminals, it is the primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley, a metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Nevada.
The airport was originally named after U.S. senator Pat McCarran and was known as McCarran International Airport from 1968 until its renaming in 2021. Prior to 1968, it was called McCarran Field, named after former senator Pat McCarran, who had a reputation as a vocal advocate for the aviation industry.
The push to rename the airport began as early as 2012, when elected officials called for a change due to McCarran's history of racist and anti-Semitic remarks and actions. U.S. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, for whom the airport is now named, stated in 2012 that McCarran was "one of the most anti-Semitic, one of the most anti-black, one of the most prejudiced people who has ever served in the Senate." Despite initial attempts failing to pass between 2016 and 2019, the momentum to rename the airport gained new support following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests across the United States.
In February 2021, the Clark County Commission unanimously approved the renaming of the airport, citing McCarran's "history of perpetuating racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism." The new name honours U.S. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, who served the state from 1987 to 2017 and was the Senate Majority Leader from 2007 to 2015. The airport is owned by Clark County and operated by the county's Department of Aviation.
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McCarran International Airport
The airport opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field, catering to general aviation. In December 1948, it was renamed McCarran International Airport after U.S. senator Pat McCarran, and commercial airlines began operating from the airport. The name change honoured McCarran's reputation as a vocal advocate for the aviation industry. However, in recent years, McCarran's legacy has been re-evaluated, and he has been criticised for his "history of perpetuating racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism".
In 2021, the Clark County Commission unanimously approved the renaming of the airport to Harry Reid International Airport. This change was made in honour of the late U.S. congressman and longtime senator from Nevada, Harry Reid. Reid's family expressed their gratitude for the tribute, with his son, Rory Reid, stating that tying his father's name to one of Las Vegas' main attractions made a lot of sense. The process of changing the airport's name is expected to be costly and time-consuming, with signage and other elements bearing the former name still present in various locations.
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Senator Pat McCarran
Patrick Anthony McCarran, born on August 8, 1876, in Reno, Nevada, was an American farmer, attorney, judge, and Democratic politician. He represented Nevada in the United States Senate from 1933 until 1954, and his political career spanned more than fifty years. McCarran was born to Irish immigrant parents, Margaret Shay and Patrick McCarran, and grew up on their sheep ranch. He attended the University of Nevada but dropped out to help on the family ranch after his father was injured. He continued his law studies while tending sheep and later won election to the Nevada Assembly in 1902.
After an unsuccessful campaign for the Nevada State Senate in 1905, McCarran returned to Reno and served as Nye County District Attorney from 1905 to 1907. From 1913 to 1919, he was a justice of the Supreme Court of Nevada, serving as chief justice from 1917 to 1919. McCarran ran for the United States Senate again in 1932 and won at the age of fifty-six. He was a vocal advocate for the aviation industry, which led to Las Vegas's McCarran Field, now Harry Reid International Airport, being named in his honour in 1948.
During his career as a Senator, McCarran served as chairman of several committees, including the Senate Judiciary Committee, and established himself as a powerful anti-Communist. However, his career was also marked by his antisemitism, racism, and xenophobia. He was in conflict with the Franklin Roosevelt administration over the New Deal, foreign policy, and cooperation with the Soviet Union during World War II. McCarran opposed Roosevelt's plans for aid to the Soviet Union, arguing that it was immoral to assist "godless communists." He also blamed the loss of mainland China by his favourite foreign leader, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, on alleged Soviet spies in the State Department.
McCarran's anti-Semitic stance caused him to be attacked in Nevada publications, particularly The Las Vegas Sun. However, he cultivated enough allies in his home state to ensure his reelection. He gave loans to Nevadans to pay for their law school education, and in return, he expected their public support. McCarran's political control was referred to as a "patronage pigsty" by his detractors.
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Senator Harry Reid
On December 14, 2021, Las Vegas Airport officially changed its name from McCarran International Airport to Harry Reid International Airport. The airport, which serves the Las Vegas Valley, was renamed in honour of the late Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, who served in the US Congress for 30 years from 1987 to 2017.
Harry Mason Reid Jr. was born on December 2, 1939, in Searchlight, Nevada, and grew up in a small, impoverished town. After earning an undergraduate degree from Utah State University and a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University, Reid began his public career as the city attorney for Henderson, Nevada, before being elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1968. He went on to serve as the lieutenant governor of Nevada from 1971 to 1974 and as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission from 1977 to 1981. During his time in office, Reid was known for his political organising skills and his voter coalition, the "Reid Machine", which was credited with driving several statewide Democratic wins.
Reid was also known for his stance against Senator Pat McCarran, the former namesake of the airport. As early as 2012, there had been calls to remove McCarran's name from the airport due to his history of perpetuating racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism. Reid himself stated that McCarran was "one of the most anti-Semitic, one of the most anti-black, one of the most prejudiced people who has ever served in the Senate", and that his name should be removed from the airport.
The process of renaming the airport began with changes to the airport's social media channels and other digital presences, followed by updates to the primary signage around the outdoor areas and throughout the interior of the airport. The final phase involved updating business cards, stationery, and other concessionaire-related work. The funding for the project, estimated at \$7.2 million, was collected through private donations, with no public money going towards the cost.
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Clark County Commission
The Clark County Commission is the governing body of Clark County, Nevada, which owns the Harry Reid International Airport. The commission unanimously approved the renaming of the airport from McCarran International Airport to Harry Reid International Airport in February 2021. The decision was made in response to reports of former Senator Pat McCarran's history of racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism.
The Clark County Commission's role in the airport renaming process began with Commissioner Tick Segerblom, who championed the name change. Segerblom led the push to rename the airport at the county level, and the commission voted unanimously in favour of the change. The commission's decision was influenced by McCarran's controversial legacy, including his anti-Semitic, anti-black, and prejudiced views, as well as Harry Reid's significant contributions to the state of Nevada.
The Clark County Department of Aviation, which operates the airport, spent approximately ten months planning the name change. The process included updating signage, digital content, and social media accounts associated with the airport. The department also stipulated that all funding for the renaming project must come from private donations, amounting to $4.2 million.
The Clark County Commission's decision to rename the airport faced some criticism from citizens of Las Vegas, who argued that the commission made the decision without considering the public's opinion. A petition was circulated, suggesting that the airport should be named "Las Vegas International Airport" instead, to align with other well-known Las Vegas entities such as the "Las Vegas Golden Knights" and the "Las Vegas Raiders."
Despite the criticism, the name change was well-received by Harry Reid's family, who expressed their gratitude during the dedication ceremony on December 14, 2021. The ceremony was attended by prominent Nevada Democrats, including Governor Steve Sisolak, who supported the change, stating that Reid's legacy would not be forgotten in Nevada.
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Frequently asked questions
The name changed on 14 December 2021.
The previous name of the airport was McCarran International Airport. From 1968 to 2021, it was called McCarran International Airport. Prior to 1968, it was named McCarran Field.
The new name of the airport is Harry Reid International Airport.
The name of the airport was changed because the previous namesake, Senator Pat McCarran, had a history of racist, antisemitic, and xenophobic views.
