Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport Takes a Major Step Forward

Las Vegas could soon get a brand new airport. 

Plans to build a second airport in the Las Vegas metropolitan area just took a major step forward. On May 19, officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Bureau of Land Management issued a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport in the Ivanpah Valley, located between the small towns of Jean and Primm.

Preparing an environmental impact statement is the first step in the federal process for approving a new commercial airport. Local officials called the start of the review a “major milestone” for the future airport.

“This important step brings us closer to addressing the increasing demand for air travel in one of the nation’s fastest growing regions,” Rosemary Vassiliadis, the Clark County director of aviation, said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure.

The new airport would have two runways and a single terminal building. The proposed site is about 23 miles from the Vegas strip, and could accommodate both domestic and international flights.

Plans to build a second airport for the Las Vegas area have been in the works for more than 25 years, but the project has taken on new urgency. Passenger numbers at Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) are estimated to meet its full capacity of 63 million to 65 million fliers per year by 2030, according to the Clark County Department of Aviation. 

“As a second commercial airport, SNSA will add much-needed capacity, improve service reliability, and ensure Southern Nevada continues to thrive as a global destination for business and tourism,” Vassiliadis said. 

With its opulent resorts, over-the-top casinos, and thriving nightlife scene, Las Vegas is a perennial hit with travelers. And in recent years, it's been growing even more popular among visitors, thanks to new events and attractions such as the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the immersive concert venue, the Sphere, which opened in September 2023. 

The next step in the proposed airport’s approval process is for the FAA and the BLM to hold a series of three public meetings in July to cover the potential environmental impact the new facility could have on the surrounding area. One concern, according to the local newspaper The Nevada Current, is whether the airport will threaten endangered species in the Ivanpah Valley, including the desert tortoise and the rare white-margined beardtongue wildflower. 

The first meeting will be held virtually on July 29, and participants can register on the project's website. Two in-person meetings are scheduled to take place on July 30 at the East Las Vegas Library and on July 31 at Primm Valley Casino Resorts.