Hosting World Routes in Las Vegas paid off big time for the city. The estimated annualised non-gaming economic impact of new air services is US$1.4 billion, some US$466 million of which will be realised from services starting in 2014.
New services include Edelweiss Air serving Zurich two times a week, Alaska Airlines serving Anchorage and Salt Lake City, and Southwest going to Des Moines and Flint. In 2015, Air Europa, Air Transat and JetBlue will join the party, among others.
New capacity since the event is put at 304 flights per week or more than 42,000 seats. Passenger numbers in the 2014 financial year are up 1.8% year-on-year. All of 2014’s air service objectives have been met as a result. The groundwork has been laid for new Asian services, relations with several Latin America carriers have been improved, and COPA Airlines service has grown. The airport will also build on the opportunities brought about by the changes in Southwest/Allegiant business model and continue to support the surge in service from Europe.
McCarran International Airport has long partnered with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in efforts to attract air service to Las Vegas. Tourism is the city’s number one industry and more than half of those visitors arrive in Las Vegas by air. Overall, the airport generates US$30 billion for the local economy and directly employs around 18,000 people.
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