Passenger traffic at Harry Reid International Airport saw a decline of 3.9 percent in March compared to the previous year, according to the Clark County Department of Aviation. This decrease is notable given that March of the previous year marked the airport’s third-highest passenger count in its history. The decline was observed in both domestic and international categories, with a significant impact from Canadian airlines.
In March, the airport handled 4.8 million passengers, with 4.5 million being domestic, which is a 4.3 percent decrease, and 312,901 being international, a slight decline of 0.5 percent. Among international carriers, WestJet experienced a 14.5 percent decrease, and Air Canada saw a 5.9 percent drop. However, Porter Airlines, which was newer to the market in March 2024, recorded a substantial increase of 233.8 percent.
The decline in Canadian air traffic has been under scrutiny, especially following former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and comments on annexation.
Domestic carriers showed varying performance. Spirit Airlines, the airport’s third-largest carrier, saw a significant drop of 28.7 percent, while JetBlue and Alaska Airlines reported increases of 28.5 percent and 16.5 percent, respectively. Southwest Airlines, the leading carrier at the airport, experienced a modest decline of 3.1 percent, whereas United, Delta, and American Airlines reported slight gains.
For the first quarter of 2025, overall passenger traffic decreased by 3.7 percent to 13.2 million, primarily due to a 4.3 percent drop in domestic travel. However, international traffic rose by 4.9 percent, with airlines like Aeromexico, Vivaaerobus, and Korean Airlines posting double-digit growth.
Upcoming reports on Southern Nevada’s visitation numbers and gaming revenue are anticipated to provide further insights into the region’s economic activity.