We will discuss History and many detailed facts about McCarran International Airport in this Article. Also watch the informative Videos which are part of this article.
History of McCarran International Airport
On December 19th 1948 the new McCarran Field opened with four Airlines offering a total of 12 flights per day. Till year 1954 the annual passenger traffic at the Airport had grown by over 900 percent. A pressing need expansion was obvious and the Airport began to change the numbers here. It has always been amazing when you think of it.
McCarran Airport has been one of the busiest Airports. There’s been very few years in the overall history of McCarran Airport that there hasn’t been an expansion project going on. In year 1960, arrivals and departures at the Airport passed 1 million. New plans were developed for a modern jet age Airport across the field from the existing terminal.
On March 15 1963 Airport operations were moved from Las Vegas Boulevard side of the field to the Paradise Road side this move made future expansion possible with the advent of larger aircraft in the 1960s and 1970s.
Many new carriers began flying to Las Vegas in 1969. We got our first 747 flight. This 747 was huge in size which can carry over 400 passengers. It won’t be incorrect if we say that it stressed every Airport it flew into because of so many people getting off and using baggage claim area, using walkways, using bathrooms at the same time.
So this was a huge impact but here it had a secondary impact when they brought the first one in just to test the runways. It flew in just fine took off just fine and blew out 21 lights on the airstrip just blew them out across the desert they went rolling well the guy in charge of putting them back went to see the Airport manager and he said that plane just blew out 21 of our lights.
Airport managers said give me a bill and he took that bill sent it to Boeing and Boeing sent back a check. Michael Bennett is the Assistant Director of aviation security but began working around the Airport in 1972 and says today’s McCarran International Airport is completely unrecognizable when we compare it to the facility during the1970s.
According to Bennett, Air travels decades ago were much more of a relaxed atmosphere before the addition of security measures that are required today. You come in the Airport you went up a set of escalators and they went right to the gates. Bennett also remembers when passengers would dress up often min more suits and ties and women would wear dresses and fancy hats Bennett recalls.
In the early 70s when the airlines would descend passengers right on the airfield, a completely different process from how it’s being done today. The land out there just west of Patrick was called overnight parking and on Thursdays and Sundays United with brain probably 10 or 12 stretch aides out there. We would take the buses right on in the field and they would walk load the airplane right into the buses and on.
In 1978 dramatic increases in passenger volume and terminal traffic encouraged the implementation of the McCarran 2000 master plan, a long term program which was designed to take care of the Las Vegas’ s flourishing tourism industry.
The three-phase plan included a new baggage claim expanded ticketing area, a nine level parking facility, runway additions, additional gates, new tunnel and revamped roadways into the Airport. This change was really good for the Airport and everybody else and it was a whole lot easier.
In 1982 more than 9.4 million passengers used the Airport nearly double the 1972 figures.
Clark County voters passed a 300 million dollar bond, which has been the largest Airport bond issue in history, to fund planned expansion projects.
During its 66 years of operations McCarran has been a first-class Airport because it has successfully responded to driving forces around it even from the very beginning Karen was the gateway and will always continue to be the Gateway to southern portion. It’s exciting it’s evolving you’re around aircraft your people every day there’s something different going on. This is the best place in the world to work with no major capital expansion projects on the horizon maintaining a high level of customer service will continue to be a top goal of the Department of Aviation.
McCarran will remain the Gateway Airport for Las Vegas visitors. The role it has proudly served since 1948.
Detailed information about the McCarran International Airport
Hello and welcome to flight path I’m Chris Jones Chief Marketing Officer at McCarran International Airport. From its beginnings is a small Airport to one of the nation’s busiest today McCarran has grown into a vital part of the Las Vegas community. This year the Department of Aviation proudly celebrates McCarran’s evolution as it approaches a new milestone its 70th anniversary.
Here’s a look back at where we’ve been and where we’re going with some stories from some of the people who’ve been here for parts of the journey. McCarran Field was dedicated on December 19 1948. The site a privately run airfield from 1943 until 1948 was newly named for Senator Pat McCarran an aviation advocate who sponsored numerous laws concerning the early commercial aviation industry.
When McCarran Field was transferred to County ownership it served for Airlines Bonanza western united and TWA and averaged just 12 flights a day. In the 1950s Las Vegas hadn’t then yet grown up around. The Airport by 1959 the number of daily flights at McCarran had increased to 73 with an average of 2629 passengers a day.
The Airport planners are looking at can we grow on the Las Vegas side or are we going to jump the field and so they decide they are going to jump the field and built on Paradise Road. It was interesting. The media here thought this is a terrible idea it’s called a white elephant basking in the Desert Sun and yet within just a couple of years we have to already start planning again for the future with passenger numbers on the rise.
The 1960s saw the opening of a new terminal. In year1963 daily flights operated from the McCarran Airport increased to 128 with nearly 49 thousand passengers a day.
By year 1968 yearly passenger traffic bounced to 3.5 million and while scheduled international flights wouldn’t become a major part of operations for several years the Airport’s name was officially changed to McCarran International Airport.
We pride ourselves on being an International Airport again because we want the world to come here and what we’ve learned is the world does want to be here.
In the early 1970s construction began on the A and B gates to accommodate increased passenger traffic. Year 1972 witnessed McCarran as the 22nd busiest Airport in the United States with 4.6 million annual passengers. It was a time before the age of personal private jets when everyone who flew to and from Las Vegas could be seen at McCarran. Even famous celebrities were seen. I remember Lonnie Anderson coming in. She had you know sunglasses on trying to disguise herself. You were just a date back then you know when there’s Tom Selleck hey there’s Burt Reynolds.
In 1978 the Clark County Board of Commissioners adopted the impressive McCarran 2000 expansion plan. Among other things the plan called for construction of new gates and a parking garage as well as expanded baggage claim facilities. Over the years the Airport has been home to a variety of shops, restaurants and bars.
They had a cafeteria they had a small bar. Later on may change that to cheers bar and they had these dummies sitting there that look just exactly like that guy norm and everybody thought that was real people. By 1982 yearly passenger traffic was more than 9.4 million as McCarran compete to keep up work on expansion projects and Airport amenities continued.
As a kid we used to drive out to park at the end of what is a nice turn because the Airport didn’t go up that far out was every road was shorter than that and we used to park and at the end of the fence and watch the airplanes land. That was pretty cool. Lots of people did that so when we constructed the southernmost runway we put that viewing area in over on sunset and the only mistake we made was not making it bigger because it is really popular.
In 1987 the McCarran 2000 expansion was complete and the Airport’s pledge to the future of the community was evident the 300 million dollar project quadrupled the size of the original terminal and added the Sea Gate satellite concourse. With passengers traffic increasing at McCarran the County purchased a general aviation Airport in North Las Vegas. It would finally become the second busiest Airport in Nevada.
In the 90s steady growth in the number of travelers using the Airport it became inevitable to have another terminal. The charter international terminal which was later called terminal 2 opened in 1991. By 1996 McCarran was North America’s 10th busiest Airport. It’s hilarious because I recall when working at the Airport there was this McCarran 2020 plan and that was actually the capital plan and what McCarran would look like in 2020. And now here we are today in 2018 you know and some of the other things that are interesting is you know we always talked about the McCarran mob you know that was the color of you know our uniform summer.
McCarran mob as the 90s drew to a close Las Vegas continued to draw tens of millions of visitors each year and the Airport evolved along with the community with yet another addition the D concourse to see it being built each leg I mean it was again with just every time we watched it we said here’s another piece of history to see the land before it was a structure and to see the changes over the years and the technology and it was just amazing.
The new millennium brought challenges but the team at McCarran face them head-on. The terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001 shocked the Nation and temporarily halted air travel.
This was a game changer. I mean it changed the Airport environment permanently. I was actually in Montreal at an annual Airport conference. We were all stranded we couldn’t get out of Montreal. So rosemary was back here with the staff taking care of what needed to be taken care of. I am proud to say that she and her team were the first Airport in the United States to get recertified to open back up. They did an incredible job.
Security concerns changed the way people traveled resulting in the creation of the TSA and new methods of passenger screening. With all the changes McCarran remained devoted to best customer service through technology and innovation.
In 2003 McCarran became the first US Airport to install speed check kiosks allowing travelers to print a boarding pass from multiple locations throughout the Airport.
In 2005 with nearly 44.3 million travelers passing through, the North East Wing of the D concourse was completed adding 11 new gates also in 2005 McCarran debuted the largest free Airport Wi-Fi system in the United States. Wireless was something at passengers were then more than a decade ago and are still very very excited about it and we really led the world in helping to establish the common use kiosks and that means that any airline can use any ticket counter or any gate position and all to the benefit ultimately of our customers.
Year 2007 was a record year with 47.7 million passengers arriving and departing. McCarran’s consolidated rent-a-car Center opened the key thing that has happened in the time that I’ve been here has to do with consolidation and my best memory of the Airport has to do with just the opportunities. This is probably my 8th position since I started. In the beginning I was attempt when I first started so the thing that gets me excited is the fact that I know that the Airport rewards effort in 2008 to keep up with increasing passenger numbers the Airport debuted the sea annex security checkpoint and the north west wing of the D concourse looking forward never back.
McCarran saw the future of this community in 2012 terminal 3 opened with 14 gates know us all Las Vegas. In 2017 an underground tunnel connecting the D gates to T 3s customs hall allowed for twice as many international gates. Recent improvements in terminal 1 ticketing and baggage claim reveals the continued commitment to the future of this Airport and this community we are truly the Gateway to Las Vegas.
The Airport has grown a lot. I started in 91 and so Terminal 3 was really probably that defining moment for me that wow this is we’re really getting big McCarran’s transformation continues its growth and success over the last 70 years wouldn’t have been possible without committed employees, bold decision-makers and a unique destination designed to attract the travelers to return year after year.
The McCarran Airport here in Las Vegas is part of the community. We’re part of that economic engine. We can make a difference as the Gateway to Southern Nevada.
Passengers Safety and Disaster Recovery Drills
McCarran will continue its commitment to passengers, employees and the community. All while constantly evolving to remain a world-class transportation center being prepared for an Airport emergency takes practice and planning. The team at McCarran gets trained year-round so they’re ready for any situation. Every three years all those involved in Airport safety come together for a full-scale emergency exercise.
Here’s a look at the most recent drill and how will benefit the well-being of the Airport and its travelers the Federal Aviation Administration requires all US Airports to maintain an emergency plan in order to keep their certification. Part of that plan involves emergency response personnel as participation in a full-scale exercise once every three years.
A mock disaster was created to test the Airport’s readiness with loud sirens, billowing smoke and dozens of shocked and wounded people scattered along the airfield creating a sense of realism a key element of the drill known as the triennial exercise. It was the need for advanced planning and community-wide participation police, fire, paramedics and other emergency response agencies took part in the exercise. We do this because it gives us an opportunity to explore how we interact with other agencies outside of the Airport.
This way in the event that such an occurrence would occur we can utilize everyone with multiple communications and equipment. Nearly 120 Airmen from Nellis Air Force Base served as volunteer victims in the exercise and elaborate makeup process replicated injuries that would likely be seen in an actual aircraft emergency. During the drill medical responders triage the patients determining what level of care was needed before directing the injured to the appropriate medical facility.
This is a full-scale exercise and we do that because it gives realism and continuity to how the operations would feel in a high-stress environment where all the players are working in a concerted effort and not just doing a tabletop exercise. The exercise featured a scenario with limited participants involved and advance knowledge of what unfolded around them a technique meant to improve their abilities to react quickly and correctly under pressure.
Key personnel from participating agencies watched and responded to the incident from within the Airport’s Emergency Operations Center as they gathered relevant information. An exercise like this you go through the exercise you get the value of the exercise and then after that you’ll see an individual conversation. It’s going ok so you do this we do that and it’s and it’s very valuable
McCarron staged the full-scale simulation at a location near the ramp area far enough removed to minimize the impact on normal Airport operations. As a result of months of planning and preparation combined with this realistic practice McCarran and the agencies that support it are better prepared should there be a real emergency situation.
McCarran is self supporting and self funded.
It does not receive taxpayer money. Instead the Airport is funded by various revenue sources including many outside of the Airline’s.
Advertising Revenue:
Here’s look at advertising as a revenue source and some of the unique ways advertisers reach potential customers. On a typical day more than 130,000 travelers pass through McCarran making the Airport a great spot for advertisers to reach a broad sampling of both domestic and international customers.
To capitalize on this ever-changing audience Airport advertising companies use innovative methods to attract attention to their clients, products and services. Ads can easily be seen around McCarran on large video walls, small digital displays and even the parking garage. Actually any part of the Airport from baggage claim – taxi queues – buses and trams can be an advertiser’s canvas for reaching a large audience.
The revenues generated by advertising help offset the fees the Department of Aviation charges its airline partners a coordinated effort that’s a key factor to the success of the local tourism industry. One of the major components of non Airline revenue is advertising. We’ve worked really hard with our advertising company to maximize that revenue which helps us keep the costs low to the Air carriers and helps make it more affordable to come to Las Vegas as a destination. For McCarran Airport advertisers have wrapped the interior of four automated trans with floor-to-ceiling ads. Each car interior was covered with 660 square feet of material that required eight hours to install with each piece of high resolution wrap pre-cut by a custom machine in terminal 1.
Many passengers arrive and head straight to baggage claim. With its high ceilings and abundant wall space, the area is ideal for displaying ads. Currently we are working with our Airport advertisers to replace all the backlit signs with new digital signs. This allows us to replace the advertisement or put multiple advertisements on one side in the coming months.
Newer nano lumens LED displays will help to add content to change every few seconds or for Clients to buy out an entire space for integrated and dynamic messaging that could cover all of baggage claim for a few seconds or longer based on the Clients preferences and budget.
Another opportunity for advertising is the rent-a-car Center. We have a lot of people come here that run a car. They’re on their trip and it’s a nice audience to capture and it’s a good market that we can focus advertising. Airport advertising companies are using technology to reach customers. Going to McCarran’s a rent-a-car Center placing digital monitors whether the buses a service center with more than seven million passengers using the bus system every year the ads are certain to find a large audience. With unique and innovative methods of attracting travelers attention advertisers will continue to be a valuable revenue source for McCarran.
Facilities for Travelers with Special Needs and Wings for Autism Program:
For individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities Airports pose unique challenges. Here’s a look at a program aimed at making travel a little easier for those individuals and their families.
For the second year in a row the team of McCarran partnered with the Legion Airlines and families for effective autism treatment to host an event “wings for autism”. An Airport practice run specially designed for people on the autism spectrum and their travel companions by rehearsing for a flight ahead of time. Families can prepare for the real thing making sure future vacations go smoothly.
Autistic children sometimes have trouble adjusting to new situations. Through wings for autism they gain exposure to the unfamiliar. The hustle and bustle of a busy travel hub at the same time families and caregivers can see how they react to a variety of Airport situations. This just gives them the practice. We’re being proactive so they can have a successful trip later on so a lot of stimuli and a lot of lights noises sounds things like that can be hard for a lot of our kids. Wings for autism offers an unique opportunity to practice entering the Airport, checking in, getting boarding passes, going through security and boarding the plane.
Once on the plane children learn about the various sights and sounds they might encounter while in flight. So being able to show them and practice it so that they can see what it’s going to be like and that it’s actually okay. The most important part of this is it is helping us to prepare for the opportunity to get on a plane and see how they are going to do and see what we need to do as a family.
Wings for autism also gives Airport staff a valuable opportunity to observe, interact and deliver their services in a structured, educational environment. This program kind of allows you to know TSA and Airline staff and Airports to know you, talk with families, learn more about people with intellectual disabilities and you know better ways to support them in Air travel.
Aviation professionals learn to anticipate their customers’ needs and offer a better overall travel experience. It’s not only a great program for families that have kids that are on the scale that need that experience to get familiar with travel but it’s great for the Airport employees for the TSA, it’s good for our crew members to get to learn patience and how to interact with different families and different types of people that they might encounter while traveling.
In addition to the wings for autism event the Airport is working with Magma’s mode to offer a customized mobile app that helps people with autism and other special needs navigate the Airport by providing a safe environment in which to learn how to navigate the Airport.
Wings for autism can alleviate some of the stress families affected by autism might experience when traveling by Air.
Do’s and Don’ts for using Drones:
Drones have become popular both for recreational and commercial purposes. The Federal Aviation Administration has rules and regulations for the use of these Aircraft and for their operators.
Here are some of the do’s and don’ts that apply to Drones-an unmanned Aircraft system or drone is an aircraft without a pilot on board. Instead, the drone is controlled by an operator on the ground. Drones can be small, relatively inexpensive and readily purchased online and at many stores because these aircraft have the capability to fly almost anywhere.
Special rules and regulations have been put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration to protect public safety.
- If you have a drone that weighs between nine ounces and fifty-five pounds you are required by the FAA to register your drone.
- So the FAA has a website it’s a great website for people to get all kinds of information about where to fly legally, how to get a license, how to register your drone etc. If you’re gonna be using your drone for commercial purposes you are required to get a part 107 certification
- Since the FAA rules for use of small drones went into effect in 2016 more than 100,000 people have obtained remote pilot certificates to fly drones for non recreational purposes.
- The majority of drone pilots get certified by studying online materials and then passing an initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA approved knowledge testing center.
- The certificate is valid for two years after which time it must be renewed so the person has to understand there’s more – than more to just flying this thing and having fun there’s liability and that’s really what they have to understand.
- They are dealing with aircraft that operates in the national airspace you have to follow the rules. So it’s a road of Education.
- McCarran International North Las Vegas and Henderson executive Airports are operated by the Department of Aviation and fall within the managed Airspace of the Federal Aviation Administration.
- Without specific authorization from the FAA, drones are not allowed in areas around Airports.
- One really important message that the FAA wants to get across is drones and Airports don’t mix and it’s very important that if you are going to fly a UAS in Las Vegas class proper Airspace make sure you educate yourself and make sure you have all the correct information before you go out and fly.
- Anyone operating a drone is responsible for flying within FAA guidelines and regulations that means knowing before takeoff where it is and where it is not safe to fly.
- Please visit the FAA website for more information on how to register a drone, the Airspace restrictions and where and how to fly.
Food and Restaurants:
For health-conscious travelers finding good food on the go can be challenging. Master Airport Restaurateur host rises to the challenge by offering a wide variety of meals and snacks to meet a variety of dietary needs and preferences. Airports are places where customers have a variety of food choices from grabbing boat meals and snacks to sit-down restaurants. McCarran has the diverse assortment travelers can choose from. For customers who have food allergies are those who simply prefer to stick to a specific diet Airport restaurants offer vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Hms house is really engaging with our customer and our customer health.
For those options customers are looking for a lighter fare while traveling can visit the pga tour group where menu items include the Greek salad, Grilled salmon and a turkey burger. The restaurant also features the puppy power salad with quinoa tomato, roasted peppers, kabandha beans, arugula avocado and fresh herbs to give health-conscious travelers more ways to fuel their journeys.
Hms hosts recently introduced a new array of meals snacks and beverages we have developed with several nutritionist is paleo boxes and lunch boxes and protein boxes. They’re all under 500 calories, no high fructose corn syrup, no added sweeteners. It’s really that experience to be able to go into an Airport and eat healthy. The new eat will travel further items are available at fresh attractions kiosks. There are foods and beverages based on popular wellness trends such as organic pro biotic beverages, wholesome snacks like kale chips, roasted chickpeas and organic dried fruits.
Vegan and vegetarian diners can visit Pei Wei where the menu includes edamame vegetables green rolls vegetarian fried rice and vegetarian lo mein noodles. For travelers who are craving a burger but still want to eat eat free PGA Tour Grill Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill Jose Cuervo tequila Rita Las Vegas Chop House and Burke in the Box offered the impossible burger. For those passengers who are looking for a vegan option it’s a great option to try. It tastes amazing and its really a revolutionary product for passengers with gluten sensitivities.
California Pizza Kitchen & Wolfgang Puck and the DJs offers gluten-free pizzas and gluten-free snacks and salads are available at restaurants throughout the Airport.
For more information visit our website McCarran.com for all the available dining options.
McCarran Las Vegas is one of the top destinations in the world attracting millions of tourists each year.
Metro Volunteer Program 1996:
As the Gateway to Southern Nevada McCarran’s goal is to make each visitor feel like a VIP with the help of a program organized by the Las Vegas metropolitan Police Department a dedicated group of volunteers at the Airport are at your service.
Metro Volunteer Program began in 1996 when local leaders saw a need for a volunteer force to enhance the police department service for the growing community.
This unique volunteer work force serves residents and visitors alike. Dedicated Airport volunteer is known as vive volunteers work exclusively at McCarran. These ambassadors provide a valuable service to passengers. The friendly volunteers are easily spotted in bright yellow shirts around ticketing, baggage claim and other high-traffic areas. When I retired about eight years ago I was looking for something else to do and I knew a couple of guys that were part of the program and they were telling me about it and I thought wow what a cool thing to do.
It’s just still a way for me to give back to my community not only representing locals but also our visitors. McCarran’s volunteers must pass a background check and attend multiple training sessions. Some classes cover police operations while others are specific to volunteering.
At McCarran the Airport specific classes give an overview of common questions from travelers and train volunteers to give much appreciated guidance. Around this busy travel hub many of our volunteers are travelers so they know the experiences that people have when they go to different Countries or to different Airports that they’re not familiar with. So they’ve been there and they wouldn’t be helpful.
More than 90 volunteers work a variety of shifts at the Airport. They make calls if customers need medical assistance give directions and reunite passengers if someone gets lost. The team also serves as additional eyes and ears for the Metro Police Airport Bureau. I’m retired so it gets me out of the house. I get a chance to help anywhere between a 100 to 150 people a day answering questions, giving directions, things such as that and then it helps metro and helps give back a little to the community.
Verbal communication and problem-solving skills are important qualities of the job. The vive volunteers are required to serve a minimum of hours per month but several give more time simply because they enjoy the bustling Airport environment but most say they just love helping people.
I met this family they were refugees. I don’t remember what Country but their English wasn’t real good but they came up to me they were trying to find their sponsor. Their first time in the Airport, their first time in the United States. As it turned out their sponsor was just at the other end of the terminal but I was able to put them together and it felt really really good. You know it’s for reasons like this that I’m here from locating luggage to locating people in giving directions this volunteer work force draws on a rich heritage of unique skills to help people and it’s why this dedicated team of vive volunteers are at your service.
Now you’re ready to pack your bags and fly the skies so have a great trip. We welcome you at McCarran Airport.