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Harry Reid International Airport, formerly McCarran International Airport, is the primary airport serving the Las Vegas Valley in Nevada. The airport was officially renamed in December 2021 to honour former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who represented Nevada in the Senate for three decades. The airport was originally built on an airfield known as Anderson Field, which opened in 1920. However, the airport, as it is known today, opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field, catering to general aviation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Construction | 1920 (as Anderson Field) |
| Previous Names | McCarran International Airport, Alamo Field, McCarran Field |
| Date of Renaming | December 14, 2021 |
| Owner | Clark County |
| Operator | Clark County's Department of Aviation |
| Location | 5 miles (8 km) south of downtown Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Area | 2,800 acres (4.4 sq mi; 11.3 km2) |
| Number of Terminals | 2 |
| Number of Runways | 4 |
| Number of Gates | 110 |
| Number of Passengers (2022) | 52 million |
| Number of Passengers (2024) | 58.4 million |
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What You'll Learn
- Harry Reid International Airport was originally named McCarran International Airport
- The airport opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field
- The airfield was built by flight instructor George Crockett in 1942
- It was renamed in December 2021, after former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
- The airport is located five miles south of downtown Las Vegas
Harry Reid International Airport was originally named McCarran International Airport
Harry Reid International Airport, with the IATA code LAS, is the primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley in Nevada. It is located five miles (8 km) 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 named after the late U.S. congressman and senator from Nevada, Harry Reid.
The airport was originally named McCarran International Airport after former Nevada Senator Pat McCarran, who helped obtain federal funding for the purchase of the land and construction of the terminal. The first iteration of the airport was built on an airfield known as Anderson Field, which opened in 1920. Over the next decade, ownership changed hands several times before Clark County bought the land and built a more modern terminal. In 1941, it was named McCarran Field.
In 1942, aviator George Crockett built Alamo Field on the site currently occupied by Harry Reid Airport. It opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field and initially catered to general aviation. When the U.S. Army decided to open a base at McCarran Field, Clark County acquired Alamo Field and made it the new McCarran Field.
In February 2021, the Clark County Commission voted unanimously to rename the airport after U.S. senator Harry Reid of Nevada. The airport was officially renamed in December 2021. Several elected officials had called for the airport to be renamed, citing antisemitic and racist actions and comments previously made by the late Senator McCarran.
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The airport opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field
Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran International Airport, opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field. Alamo Field was built by flight instructor George Crockett in 1942. Crockett built the airfield on the site currently occupied by Harry Reid Airport. He named it in honour of his forefather, Davy Crockett, who 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, however, 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.
In 1941, the airfield 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. Senator McCarran also helped establish a gunnery school for the United States Army Air Corps. When the U.S. Army decided to open a base at McCarran Field, Clark County acquired Alamo Field and made it the new McCarran Field.
In February 2021, the Clark County Commission voted unanimously to rename the airport after U.S. senator Harry Reid of Nevada. The airport was officially renamed in December 2021. The airport is one of two in the United States with slot machines inside the terminals.
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The airfield was built by flight instructor George Crockett in 1942
Harry Reid International Airport, formerly McCarran International Airport, is the primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley in Nevada. The airport was officially renamed in December 2021 to honour former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who represented Nevada in the Senate for three decades.
The airfield on which the airport now stands was originally built by flight instructor George Crockett in 1942. Named Alamo Field, it was constructed on the site of an earlier airfield known as Anderson Field, which opened in 1920. Over the following years, ownership of Anderson Field changed hands several times before Clark County bought the land in 1941, intending to build a more modern terminal. The new airfield was named McCarran Field after Nevada Senator Pat McCarran, who helped secure federal funding for the project.
In 1942, aviator George Crockett established Alamo Field south of Las Vegas, where Harry Reid International Airport is now located. Crockett named the airfield 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 and including three gravel runways, a flight school, and a terminal building. Commercial airlines continued to fly into the nearby Las Vegas Army Airfield, sharing the facility with the Army Air Forces, which had operated an air base there since the attack on Pearl Harbor.
When the US Army decided to open a base at McCarran Field, Clark County acquired Alamo Field and merged the two airfields under the name McCarran Field. Over the following decades, the airport changed hands several times and underwent numerous expansions, including the addition of new terminals and gates to accommodate increasing air traffic.
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It was renamed in December 2021, after former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
The history of Harry Reid International Airport dates back to the early 1900s. The site was once an airfield known as Anderson Field, which opened in 1920. Over the following years, ownership changed multiple times before Clark County stepped in and acquired the land to build a modern terminal. In 1941, the airfield was named McCarran Field after Nevada Senator Pat McCarran, who played a crucial role in securing funding for the project. However, the airport's name underwent a significant change in December 2021, when it was officially renamed after former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, honouring his decades of service representing Nevada in the Senate.
The decision to rename the airport was not made lightly. The previous namesake, Senator McCarran, had come under scrutiny for his legacy of anti-Semitic and racist remarks. Calls for the airport's renaming had been made as early as 2012 by elected officials, including Nevada Senator Harry Reid himself. The momentum for change gained new impetus following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent nationwide protests. This tragic event brought the issue back into focus, leading to the eventual renaming of the airport.
The new name pays tribute to Senator Harry Reid's enduring connection to Nevada and his contributions to the airport's development. In his statement, Reid expressed his deep appreciation for the honour, reflecting on how the airport had long been synonymous with home during his years in Washington. He also emphasised the airport's significance as a world-class transportation hub, bringing millions of visitors to Las Vegas from all corners of the globe.
The renaming ceremony, held in December 2021, was a solemn occasion. Unfortunately, Senator Reid was unable to attend in person due to his ill health, and he passed away just two weeks later at the age of 82. Despite his absence, the ceremony was attended by dignitaries who commemorated the occasion and celebrated the legacy of Senator Harry Reid. This renaming stands as a testament to the impact he had on his community and the state of Nevada.
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The airport is located five miles south of downtown Las Vegas
Harry Reid International Airport, formerly McCarran International Airport, is located five miles (8 km or 4 nautical miles) south of downtown Las Vegas. The airport covers 2,800 acres of land in the unincorporated area of Paradise. It is named after the late US congressman and senator from Nevada, Harry Reid, who represented the state in the Senate for three decades.
The airport opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field, catering to general aviation. It was built on an airfield site previously known as Anderson Field, which opened in 1920. Over the next decade, ownership changed several times before Clark County bought the land and built a more modern terminal. In 1941, it was named McCarran Field after Nevada Senator Pat McCarran, who helped secure federal funding for the purchase of the land and construction of the terminal.
In February 2021, the Clark County Commission voted to rename the airport after Senator Harry Reid. The official renaming ceremony took place on December 14, 2021, and sadly, Reid passed away just two weeks later.
Harry Reid International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the US, handling over 58 million passengers in 2024, with a record-breaking 58,447,782 travellers passing through in the same year. The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 1 serving domestic flights and Terminal 3 serving international and some domestic flights. It is served by over 30 airlines and is a base for Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, JSX, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines.
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Frequently asked questions
The airfield that became Harry Reid Airport was first built in 1920 and was known as Anderson Field.
Harry Reid Airport, then known as Alamo Field, opened in January 1943.
Harry Reid Airport was previously called McCarran International Airport, named after Nevada Senator Pat McCarran.
The airport was renamed in December 2021.
