News Summary
The FAA has announced plans for an environmental impact statement for the proposed Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport, aimed at addressing air travel demand in the region. Set between Las Vegas and California, the airport is expected to enhance capacity, improve service reliability, and support Southern Nevada’s economic growth. Two community meetings will be held for public feedback. Additionally, significant expansions are planned for Harry Reid International Airport to meet increasing passenger traffic, reflecting ongoing investments in the area’s aviation infrastructure.
Las Vegas – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport (SNSA), a significant step forward in Clark County’s aviation strategy. The proposed airport, which will be situated between Las Vegas and the California state line near Jean, aims to address the rising demand for air travel and bolster Southern Nevada’s economic growth.
According to the County Department of Aviation, the SNSA is expected to enhance capacity, improve service reliability, and support both commercial and general aviation operations. Anticipated to commence operations in 2037, the environmental review conducted by the FAA will evaluate the potential impacts of the facility, ensuring that public input plays a crucial role in the process. Two community meetings are scheduled to gather feedback from residents: the first will take place on July 30 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the East Las Vegas Library, followed by a second meeting on July 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Primm Valley Casino Resorts.
The SNSA is poised to provide substantial support to the tourism sector in Southern Nevada, alleviate congestion at existing airports, and fuel regional economic advancement for decades to come. Concurrently, there are plans to expand and modernize the Harry Reid International Airport, with Clark County commissioners recently approving an expansion initiative. This plan includes the addition of 26 new gates to Terminal 1 by redeveloping the former Terminal 2 site and redesignating Terminal 3 as Terminal 2. The redesigned terminal will incorporate new ticketing areas and a curbside self-bag-drop-off.
The airport expansion will also feature a “terminal-to-terminal flyover,” aimed at enhancing traffic flow and safety by segregating commuter traffic. To improve connectivity, two multi-modal centers will be created for rideshare, public transportation, and employee parking. However, before construction can commence, additional approvals from airlines and a budget proposal are required.
Moreover, the FAA has provided information about a proposed airstrip located near the Clark and Nye County border, referred to as Las Vegas Executive Airport. This airstrip is set to cover 40.2 acres of a total site of 242.2 acres situated on State Highway 160, approximately 4.1 miles east of the Nye-Clark County border. While the FAA’s aeronautical study indicates the airstrip will not negatively impact navigable airspace safety, approval for this airstrip does not amount to full FAA endorsement for the construction of facilities.
Importantly, the airstrip concept is linked to ongoing discussions concerning a future spaceport, with groundbreaking expected to occur within three months. Plans for the spaceport include facilities dedicated to space travel experiences, a space pilot academy, and a post-high school STEM Academy. Officials associated with the Las Vegas Spaceport have reported securing $10 million in investor pledges, which are dependent on FAA and Clark County approvals. Currently, they are seeking an additional $20 million to reach their initial funding targets.
In parallel, airport officials are organizing meetings with airline executives in December to discuss the concept of the ongoing expansion project. This expansion endeavor at Harry Reid International Airport is essential to meet the record-breaking passenger traffic numbers, which reached 57.6 million in 2023, reflecting an increase from 52.6 million in 2022. Passenger numbers have continued to rise, with nearly 3% growth recorded through August 2024, maintaining an average of over 5 million passengers monthly from May to July of 2024.
The airport’s expansion will involve a phased demolition of existing concourses, with new terminal designs aimed at increasing gate capacity and providing larger holding areas for passengers. Funding sources for this expansion will primarily include user fees, revenue from airport slot machines, and potential bonds issued for the project.
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Additional Resources
- 8 News Now: Major milestone in creation of 2nd Las Vegas airport
- Wikipedia: Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport
- Fox 5 Vegas: Clark County approves plans to expand and modernize Harry Reid Airport
- Google Search: Harry Reid International Airport expansion
- KTNV: FAA releases new details about proposed Clark County airport
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Airport
- Yogonet: Nevada Clark County backs major expansion of Harry Reid International Airport
- Google News: airport expansion Las Vegas
