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Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran International Airport, has a long history of serving the Las Vegas Valley. The airport, located roughly 5 miles (8 km) south of Downtown Las Vegas, covers 2,800 acres (4.4 sq mi; 11.3 sq. km) of land and is named after the late US congressman and senator from Nevada, Harry Reid. With roots tracing back to 1920, when the airfield was known as Anderson Field, the airport has undergone numerous expansions and name changes over the decades, reflecting the growth of Las Vegas and the aviation industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Former names | McCarran International Airport, McCarran Field, Alamo Field, Anderson Field |
| Current name | Harry Reid International Airport |
| 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 km2) |
| Terminals | 2 |
| Runways | 4 |
| Gate areas (concourses) | 5 |
| Year of construction | 1920 (as Anderson Field) |
| Year of renaming to Harry Reid International Airport | 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
- Harry Reid International Airport was formerly known as McCarran International Airport
- The airport opened in 1943 as Alamo Field
- It was renamed McCarran Field in 1941 or 1948 after Senator Pat McCarran
- The airport was renamed in 2021 to honour Senator Harry Reid
- The airport welcomed over 52 million passengers in 2022, the highest in its history
Harry Reid International Airport was formerly known as McCarran International Airport
Harry Reid International Airport, the primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley, was formerly known as McCarran International Airport. The airport 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 km2 of land. It is named after the late U.S. congressman and senator from Nevada, Harry Reid, who served in the Senate from 1987 to 2017.
The airport has undergone several name changes throughout its history. The first iteration of the airport was built on an airfield known as Anderson Field, which opened in 1920. In 1941, the airport was renamed McCarran Field after Nevada Senator Pat McCarran, who played a significant role in shaping aviation-related legislation and helped secure funding for the airport's development. In December 1948, commercial airlines shifted their operations to McCarran Field from the Las Vegas Army Airfield, and it became the primary commercial airport in Las Vegas.
The growth of the Las Vegas casino industry in the 1950s fuelled a surge in air traffic, with the airport handling nearly a million passengers in 1959. To accommodate this increase, a new terminal was built and opened in March 1963. The airport underwent further expansions in the following decades, including the addition of Concourses A and B and the lengthening of runways. In 1979, there were 14 airlines operating at the airport, reflecting the growing popularity of Las Vegas as a destination.
In 2021, Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom proposed changing the airport's name to honour Senator Reid's contributions and remove McCarran's controversial legacy of racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia. On December 14, 2021, just two weeks before Senator Reid's death, the airport was officially renamed Harry Reid International Airport. The name change reflected broader trends in removing racially and culturally offensive names and symbols.
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The airport opened in 1943 as Alamo Field
Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran International Airport, first opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field. The airport is the primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley, located five miles (8 km) south of downtown Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise. Covering 2,800 acres (4.4 sq mi; 11.3 km2) of land, it is equipped with four runways and two terminals with five gate areas (concourses), all connected by a people mover system.
Alamo Field was built by aviator and flight instructor George Crockett in 1942. It was first named McCarran Field in 1941 after Nevada Senator Pat McCarran, who played a significant role in the airport's development by helping to secure federal funding for the purchase of the land and construction of the terminal. In December 1948, the airport was rechristened again, this time in honour of Senator McCarran, and commercial airlines shifted to it from the Las Vegas Army Airfield.
Over the years, the airport has undergone several name changes and expansions to accommodate increasing passenger counts and the advent of commercial jetliners. In 1963, a new terminal was built to address the growing demand, and in 1974, another expansion project was completed, which included adding Concourses A and B and lengthening the runways. The airport was officially renamed McCarran International Airport in the late 1960s to early 1970s.
In 2021, the airport underwent its most recent name change, dropping the controversial legacy of Senator McCarran, who has been criticised for his racist, anti-Semitic, and xenophobic views and actions. The airport is now named after former US Senator Harry Reid, who played a crucial role in securing funding and support for the airport's expansion projects.
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It was renamed McCarran Field in 1941 or 1948 after Senator Pat McCarran
The history of Harry Reid International Airport, formerly known as McCarran International Airport, dates back to the early 20th century. The airport's roots can be traced to an airfield known as Anderson Field, which first opened in 1920. Over the years, it underwent several name changes and expansions, reflecting the evolving aviation landscape in Las Vegas.
In the 1940s, the airport was renamed McCarran Field, honouring Senator Pat McCarran, a prominent figure in shaping aviation legislation. Specifically, the airport bore the name "McCarran Field" from 1941 to 1947, until the Air Force required additional space. However, some sources indicate that the official renaming to McCarran Field took place later, in 1948, with commercial airlines shifting to it from the Las Vegas Army Airfield. This discrepancy may be due to the dynamic nature of airport developments and the passage of time.
Senator Pat McCarran played a significant role in aviation policy and infrastructure development. He was instrumental in securing federal funding for the purchase of land and the construction of the terminal. Additionally, he sponsored and helped pass important aviation acts, such as the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 and the Federal Airport Act of 1945, which established a nationwide network of public airports.
The recognition of Senator McCarran's contributions to aviation led to the airport being named after him. However, in recent years, there have been efforts to remove his name due to his controversial legacy, which includes accusations of racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia. As a result, in 2021, the airport was renamed again, this time honouring Senator Harry Reid for his contributions to the state and the airport's expansion projects.
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The airport was renamed in 2021 to honour Senator Harry Reid
The Las Vegas airport was renamed in December 2021 to honour Senator Harry Reid, who served in the Senate from 1987 to 2017. The airport, now known as Harry Reid International Airport, was previously called McCarran International Airport, after Senator Pat McCarran.
Senator Reid played a significant role in the expansion of the airport and in securing funding for aviation infrastructure during his political career. Various speakers praised his efforts in obtaining funding and support for airport projects, emphasising his crucial role in the facility's growth. The proposal to rename the airport came amid Black History Month and reflected broader trends in removing racially or culturally offensive names and symbols.
Senator McCarran, who the airport was originally named after, has been criticised for his legacy of racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia. He imposed restrictive immigration policies that limited Jewish refugee immigration after the Holocaust. The name change aimed to celebrate Senator Reid's contributions to the state of Nevada and to remove McCarran's controversial legacy.
Harry Reid International Airport has undergone several name changes in its history. The airport first opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field, which was later renamed McCarran Field in 1948. Over time, the airport underwent expansions and innovations to accommodate the growing number of passengers.
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The airport welcomed over 52 million passengers in 2022, the highest in its history
Harry Reid International Airport, formerly McCarran International Airport, welcomed over 52 million passengers in 2022, the highest in its history. The airport, which covers 2,800 acres (4.4 sq mi; 11.3 sq km) of land, is located 5 miles (8 km) south of downtown Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise. It has four runways and two terminals with five gate areas (concourses) connected by a people mover system.
The airport's history dates back to the 1920s when the first iteration of Harry Reid International Airport was built on an airfield known as Anderson Field, which opened in 1920. Over the years, the airport underwent several name changes and expansions to accommodate the growing air traffic to Las Vegas. In 1941, the airport was named McCarran Field after Senator Pat McCarran, who played a significant role in shaping aviation legislation and securing funding for the airport's development.
In the 1950s, the growth of the Las Vegas casino industry fuelled a surge in air traffic. The airport went from receiving 36,000 passengers in 1948 to nearly one million in 1959. To cater to the increasing passenger counts and the advent of commercial jetliners, a new terminal was built and opened in March 1963. Further expansions were undertaken in the following decades, including the addition of Concourses A and B and the lengthening of runways.
In 2012, Terminal 3 was added, and in 2021, the airport was renamed Harry Reid International Airport to honour the contributions of Senator Harry Reid to the state of Nevada. The airport has continued to implement innovative enhancements to optimise efficiency and improve the passenger experience, such as the introduction of Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) and Common-Use Self-Service (CUSS) kiosks.
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel, Harry Reid International Airport experienced a significant increase in passenger traffic in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The high passenger volume can be attributed to the resumption of travel, the appeal of Las Vegas as a tourist destination, and the airport's focus on enhancing the traveller experience.
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Frequently asked questions
The first iteration of the Las Vegas airport was built on an airfield known as Anderson Field, which opened in 1920. The airport opened in January 1943 as Alamo Field and initially catered to general aviation.
The current name of the Las Vegas airport is Harry Reid International Airport. The airport was renamed in December 2021 to honor the contributions of former US Senator Harry Reid.
The previous name of the Las Vegas airport was McCarran International Airport, named after Nevada Senator Pat McCarran.
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