Airlines question Las Vegas Airport expansion plan
Last month we reported that the Clark County (Nev.) Commission voted to decrease funding for airport improvement from $3.7 billion to $360 million.
Now it appears that they decided to backtrack and fund, among other things, a new $2.4 billion international terminal, which is scheduled to open in 2012. It’s designed to support 53 million passengers a year. County officials, airport officials and others said that the expansion is necessary so the airport can handle more passengers.
With passenger volume down 4.8 percent in 2008 compared to 2007, airline officials, particularly Southwest, question whether the expansion is happening too quickly since expansion fees will largely be paid by them.
Airlines are predicting that there will be 12 to 15 percent fewer seats available on Las Vegas flights next year because of a slowing Las Vegas economy.
Southwest has decided not to increase daily flights from 240 to 350 at McCarran according to airline spokesperson Linda Macey. Flights schedules are being evaluated on a daily basis, given the fluctuation of fuel prices and the economy says Macey.
While Southwest has kept expenses low with fuel hedges, those deals are set to expire in 2012. This means that they will be subject to the same market prices for fuel as the other airlines.
A new terminal isn’t the only project slated for McCarran. A pedestrian bridge, new gates, and a new heliport in Jean, Nev., are also on the table.
Rosemary Vassiliadis, deputy director of McCarran International Airport says that these projects should not be delayed because airport and elected officials say that they should anticipate the economy recovering and be ready to accommodate larger crowds.
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