As airlines engage in the so-called luxury arms race 30,000 feet up the air, several airports around the world have built new terminals and renovated their facilities to accommodate more flights and attract a new breed of discriminating travelers.
Keeping up with the competition, McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas unveiled its newest terminal in 2012 and has provided the kind of world-class service and amenities expected by the growing number of premium cabin passengers arriving from Asia and Europe.
Located in the heart of Las Vegas, landing at McCarran International Airport gives passengers an early glimpse of the iconic hotels and casinos along the Las Vegas Strip before they even step off the plane.
Upon arrival at the airport, visitors get an instant taste of the city’s world-famous buzz, with a mural of showgirls greeting passengers in the arrivals hall, signage reminiscent of the famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign and slot machines throughout its terminals.
It’s apparent that Las Vegas has recovered from the 2008 global recession and has seen a fresh entry of luxury hotels, top-rated restaurants and futuristic convention centers. In the past few years, the city’s economy has grown by an average of 4 percent every year.
“We doubled the number of international passengers once we inaugurated Terminal 3,” said Rosemary Vassiliadis, director of aviation for Clark County, the owner and operator of McCarran International Airport and four other general aviation airports in Southern Nevada.
Beyond tourism, business travel to and from Asia has also been expanding. With more than 22,000 business meetings taking place in Las Vegas in 2015, the destination remains the busiest city in the Americas for trade shows and conventions.
Between 2010 and 2014, the number of visitors from Asia to Las Vegas has increased by more than 41 percent. In response, McCarran International Airport has allotted more gates for Asian carriers and is making a concerted effort to cater to Asian aesthetics.
“Highlighting the expansion of Asian-focused business meetings and events in Las Vegas has strengthened our position as the gateway to the Southwest U.S. for many Asian travelers. We are grateful for our current Asian airline partners and look forward to building new partnerships and bringing on additional routes that will allow us to expand our reach throughout Asia,” Vassiliadis also said.
