Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) set an annual passenger record for the second year in a row, a reflection of tourism’s recovery from the pandemic, with a 28% increase in international travelers.
Reid International handled 57.6 million travelers last year and beat the previous record of 52.6 million set in 2022, a 9.5% increase and higher than the 5.2% increase in 2023 visitor volume. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority last week reported 40.8 million visitors, less than the record 42.9 million in 2016. Airport passenger counts include Las Vegas residents who travel, accounting for the difference.
In 2023, 11 of the 12 months set records and October registered the all-time record of 5.4 million passengers. December’s 4.81 million passengers were 10.2% more than the 4.37 million in December 2022.
Domestic travel was at an all-time high with 53.3 million passengers, up 8.7% from 49.1 million, while international travel continued to rebound.
The number of passengers on international flights surpassed three million (3.2 million) for the first time since 2019, also 28.4% higher than the 2.53 million in 2022. December recorded 281,842 international passengers, 31.3% higher than the 214,584 in December 2022.
In addition to increased service from Canada and Mexico, the airport added seasonal service from San Salvador via Avianca, opening up more of Central and South America to Las Vegas, airport officials said.
“Setting a new annual record emphasizes the strength of air travel in Las Vegas,” said Rosemary Vassiliadis, Clark County Director of Aviation. “We worked to raise the bar even further in 2023, as millions traveled for special events, conventions, sporting events, concerts and more.”
As Las Vegas continues its evolution into the entertainment and sports capital of the world, demands on the Clark County Aviation System and its facilities will increase, Vassiliadis said. This was seen in the general-aviation activity on the west side of the LAS airfield and at Henderson Executive Airport and North Las Vegas Airport.
In 2023, both LAS and Henderson expanded aircraft parking aprons to accommodate this new demand. LAS continues to look at ways to maximize current resources to meet the increased demand, Vassiliadis said
There’s also a larger focus on the future of commercial aviation in southern Nevada. Planning continues for the proposed Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport, a second commercial airport in the Ivanpah Valley south of Las Vegas near the California border.
This project reached a significant milestone in 2023, receiving the go-ahead to begin selecting a consultant to lead the Environmental Impact Statement process.
Southwest Airline led the passenger totals in 2023, handling 20.8 million passengers, a 15.6% increase over 2022. Southwest was followed by Spirit, with a 15.3% increase to 8.4 million. They were followed by Delta’s 5 million and American’s 4.2 million.
Westjet of Canada was the leading international carrier at 804,827, a 52.6% increase over 2022, followed by Air Canada with 598,671, a 16.4% increase over 2022. Mexico-based Volaris handled 305,470 passengers, a 27.1% increase, followed by British Airways at 280,631, a 40.8% increase. Korean Airlines had the biggest increase among major carriers into Las Vegas in 2023, handling 107,544 passengers, a 251% increase over 2022’s 30,610.
