Home >> McCarran International Airport

For 2004 McCarran was one of the world's busiest airports, ranking 11th with 41,436,571 passengers passing through the terminal and 7th for aircraft movements with 544,679 takeoffs and landings.

As of December 2004, Southwest Airlines operated more flights out of McCarran then at any other airport they fly into. Southwest also carries the most passengers in and out of McCarran. America West Airlines, McCarran's second busiest airline, maintains a hub here. Additional airlines that run hubs at McCarran include Allegiant Air.

McCarran Airport is unique in that it has more than 1,000 slot machines throughout the airport terminals.

Maximum capacity for the airport is projected at 53 million passangers and 625,000 aircraft movements.

History

American aviator George Crockett, a descendant of frontiersman Davy Crockett, established Alamo Airport in 1942 on the site currently occupied by the current McCarran International. In 1948, Clark County purchased the airfield from Crockett to establish the Clark County Public Airport, and all commercial operations moved to the site of this airport. Later that year, the airport was renamed McCarran Field for U.S. Senator Pat McCarran, a longtime Nevada politician who authored the Civil Aeronautics Act and played a major role in developing aviation nationwide.

The location for the present terminals was moved from Las Vegas Boulevard South to Paradise Road in 1963. By this time, the airport was serving 1.5 million passengers a year. As tourism continued to rise dramatically, an expansion plan was put into place in 1978 to expand capacity by building more terminals, parking, runways, and passenger facilities. The completion of the newest expansions, the D gates and Terminal 3, would allow McCarran to handle 55 million passengers annually. At completion, about 120 gates will be available.

In the 1990's all gates and check in counters were upgraded to use a common set of computer equipment. CUTE, Common Use Terminal Equipment, eliminated the need for each airline to have their own equipment and allows the airport to reassign gates and counters without having to deal with individual airline computer systems. McCarran was the first Airport to implement this type of system.

On October 16, 2003 the airport installed SpeedCheckSM kiosks that allow customers to obtain a boarding pass without having to go a specific airline kiosk or counter. McCarren was the first airport to provide this service for multiple airlines from a single kiosk. At the same time, 6 kiosks were activated at the Las Vegas Convention Center allowing convention attendees to get boarding passes on their way to the airport. This system is being enhanced to add printing of baggage tags in 2005.

On January 4, 2005, McCarran Airport became a free Wi-Fi zone. Wi-Fi is available in all public areas of the airport. Travellers do not need to look for a hot spot! McCarren was the first airport to provide this as a free service for the entire facility.

Terminals

McCarran International Airport has two passenger terminals.

Terminal 1 handles all domestic flights (except for ATA) and contains 77 gates in four lettered concourses (A, B, C, and D). A people mover system connects concourse C with terminal 1. A second people mover system connects concourse D with terminal 1.
Terminal 2 is a separate terminal with 8 gates, that handles all international and charter flights (except for Champion Air) into Las Vegas. A shuttle bus operates between Terminals 1 and 2.

Terminal 1

(85 Gates)

A Gates

(16 Gates)

B Gates

(17 Gates)

C Gates

(19 Gates)

D Gates

(37 Gates)

Terminal 2

(8 Gates, 3 for international flights)

Cargo Terminal

One terminal is devoted to cargo operations.

Other Terminal Operations

Airport Services

Casino/Slot Machines

Over 1,000 slot machines are located throughout the airport. They are available in all gates areas once past the security checkpoints. They are also located in baggage claim and on the Esplanade.

Airport Museum

The free Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum is located on the Esplanade, Level 2, above the Baggage claim area. This small museum is open 24/7 and concentrates on Las Vegas airline history. Items on display include a copy of the first emergency vehicle that was used on the airfield. Some of the other concourses and checkin areas also have small displays.

A small branch of the museum is located at the D gates.

Airport Art

Check out the painted tile walls when you arrive at the D Gates people mover station.

After you go upto the D gates terminal level, take a look back down to the station level and you will find an aviation map for the Las Vegas area in the floor.

Other Services

Ground Transportation

Buses

The 108 Paradise/Fremont Street Experience Monorail Connector heads north to the Downtown CAT Terminal.

The 109 Maryland Parkway-Airport Connector CAT Route provides 24 hour service to the Airport. The Southbound Departure heads to the South Strip Transfer Terminal where passangers can board the 301 Strip Local service or the 301 Strip Express (5 stops, Tropicana-Sahara) service. Ask for a transfer when boarding or buy a $5 24 hour Pass when you board.

Rental cars

Local street access to the airport is from Paradise Avenue.

Interstate access is from Interstate 215 about two miles east of Interstate 15.

Limousines

Limousines are available for hire near baggage pickup. If a party consists of a group of six or more people, a limo can be the least expensive choice. Since limos are hired by the hour, one can request a brief tour on the way to one's hotel for no extra cost to use up the hour.

Shuttles

Several companies operate shuttle bus service to most of the hotels in the area. These shuttles are less expensive than taxis, but visitors may be on the shuttle for a while if their hotel happens to be the shuttle's last stop.

Taxis

Taxis are available around the clock at the bagage pick up level.

Construction

Concourse B and Concourse C Connector

There will be a bridge or an underground tunnel built between Concourse B and Concourse C to provide Southwest with some of America West's gates during the day (most of America West's Operations are at night). America West will still be utilizing all of the Concourse B gates and their slots at Concourse A.

Concourse D

Construction of the NW wing of the D gates will complete the D gates expansion. This project is currently scheduled for sometime after 2009.

Terminal 3

A new terminal is in the planning stage. The terminal will be located 'behind' the D Gates in the vicinity of Russell Road. It has not been decided if this new terminal will be for international flights, to replace Terminal 2, or for domestic flights. Terminal 3 will use the last available space, so no new terminals are likely after this expansion. Completion is currently planned for 2009.

Rental Car Facility

By mid-2006 all rental car operations will be moved from the airport to a new off airport location. This new facility may also be used as a Bus Maintance Facility for the shuttle buses.

Baggage Facilities

A major construction project is underway to remove the TSA xray machines from the lobby to a secure area behind the checkin counters. The project will totally replace the baggage facilities in Terminal 1. The portion behind Southwest is scheduled to be competed later in 2005. Construction will continue in segments to the other end of Terminal 1 with a planned completion date in 2007. This project will also continue in Terminal 2. This upgrade will also provide for supporting rfid tags on all checked luggage. This would be a first for a US airport.

Apron Rebuild

The concrete aprons at Concourse A and Concourse B are being replaced in phases. Completion date is not know.

Remote Checkin

A project to enable off airport baggage checkin, SpeedCheck Plus, was announced on March 26, 2005. The work is scheduled for completion by October of 2005.

Security checkpoint expansion

Adding 7 additional security lanes to the C and D gate checkpoint and 1 additional lane to the A and B gate checkpoint is planned for completion in 2005. A and B gate expansion completed June 1, 2005.

Ground Operations

US Airways provides services for Frontier Airlines.

DAL Global Services provides services for Delta Airlines/Song Airlines, Independence Air, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines,

Northwest Airlines provides services for Midwest Airlines

All of the other airlines provide their own ground operations personel.