Las Vegas airport traffic declines as airlines restructure and tourism slows

Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas reported a decrease in passenger traffic in August, with data showing about 280,000 fewer travelers compared with the same month in 2024.

The 5.8% year-over-year decline adds to a wider slowdown for 2025, as the airport has seen 1.7 million fewer passengers through August, down 4.5% from the same period last year.

Airlines adjust operations

Spirit Airlines posted the sharpest drop among domestic carriers. Airport officials said the airline carried 409,886 passengers in August, nearly half of what it reported a year earlier, a 46.3% decline.

Over the first eight months of 2025, Spirit’s traffic fell 32% to 3.6 million passengers. The carrier, operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, confirmed it is furloughing 1,800 flight attendants as part of its restructuring, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Avelo Airlines also exited the Las Vegas market in August, months ahead of schedule. The Houston-based airline originally planned to phase out its West Coast routes by December but accelerated the timeline, shifting resources to its East Coast network. Passenger counts for Avelo in Las Vegas were down 48.9% year-over-year.

Breeze Airways has begun to fill some of the gaps left by Avelo’s departure. The Utah-based low-cost carrier launched service from Las Vegas to Redmond, Oregon, and is expected to expand further into routes previously operated by Avelo.

Domestic and international trends

The contraction in domestic service has weighed heavily on passenger totals. Travel and Tour World reported that airlines have reduced multiple routes and redeployed aircraft to other markets considered more profitable, contributing to the decline at Harry Reid.

International traffic also fell. Airport officials reported that foreign routes carried 282,793 passengers in August, a 3.7% decline from the prior year. Through the first eight months of 2025, international traffic totaled 2.4 million passengers, down 2% year-over-year.

Canadian carriers, which account for the largest share of international traffic, recorded weaker numbers. WestJet served 46,593 passengers in August, down 33.9% from the prior year, while Air Canada carried 31,012 passengers, a 40% decline, according to the Review-Journal. Some markets saw increases, with KLM passenger numbers rising 46.6% and Korean Airlines up 38.8% year-over-year.

Impact on tourism services

The slowdown has also affected ancillary tourism businesses. Passenger totals at the westside terminal, where scenic helicopter tours operate, fell 9.7% in August. Maverick Helicopters, the largest operator, recorded an 18.6% decline.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority recently launched a campaign to attract more visitors as the city works to address the tourism downturn. July visitor counts fell 12% compared with a year earlier, continuing a trend mirrored in the city’s airport data.