McCarran’s Terminal 3 set to open mid-2012; airline transfers yet to be determined

Construction is 44 percent complete on McCarran International Airport's $2.4 billion Terminal 3 project that is expected to open in the middle of 2012.

When the terminal is finished, officials will shift the airport's international traffic from the substandard Terminal 2 to six modern international gates at the new terminal. Officials will also move an undetermined number of other airlines to the new 1.87 million-square-foot facility.

The matter doesn't rank high among the current concerns of Clark County Department of Aviation Director Randall Walker as he oversees completion of what might be the county's largest public construction project on record.

In a presentation to the Clark County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Walker said Terminal 3 was on schedule and on budget. Afterward, Walker said plans are being implemented to determine what airlines will be shifted to the new terminal, which will have 14 gates, a baggage handling system, a separate eight-level parking garage and an 83,000-square-foot concession area.

"When we started construction of the D Gates, we had no idea what airlines would be there," Walker said. "This terminal is even more turnkey than the D Gates. In today's environment, it is very hard to have the airlines make long-term decisions."

Walker said an internal plan is being put together that will be shared with the air carriers.

He also addressed Wall Street concerns that McCarran doesn't have enough incoming flights to service an anticipated 15,000 new hotel rooms expected to open by 2011. The figure includes more than 6,000 hotel rooms at the $8.5 billion CityCenter, which opens in December.

The recession has affected consumer spending habits, especially the cost of airline tickets. Subsequently, the airline industry eliminated flights over the past year, especially at McCarran. The airport has seen passenger counts decline 11.3 percent through August.

Airlines, Walker said, have traditionally added capacity when they deem it necessary.

"If there is a demand for people to come to Las Vegas and they are willing to pay a premium for a ticket and the airlines can make a profit, the airlines will add capacity," Walker said. "We've seen that in the past and we'll see that in the future."

Meanwhile, Walker isn't ready to predict what the city's economic landscape will look like by the time Terminal 3 opens.

Several infrastructure projects have been completed for the facility, including relocation of Russell Road. By 2012, the development will include 24 roadway bridges. The terminal will also house a transit system that will connect it to the rest of McCarran.

Contractors overseeing the project will employ more than 1,800 construction workers by December, which will be the peak of construction.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871.