The sun rises behind the air traffic control tower at McCarran International airport, Thursday, March 19, 2020, in Las Vegas.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 | 2:35 p.m.
The U.S. The Department of Transportation announced today that 30 airports in Nevada will get over $231 million from the federal government to help maintain operations during the coronavirus pandemic.
The grant money is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic SecurityAct and is meant to provide immediate relief to airport workers and their families, sustain airport operations and replace lost revenue from the sharp decline in passenger traffic.
McCarran International Airport will receive the majority of the funding in Nevada — nearly $196 million, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Henderson Executive Airport and the North Las Vegas Airport will each receive $157,000. The Jean Sport Aviation Center will receive $30,000.
The funds can be spent on airport capital expenditures, operating expenses, including payroll and utilities, and debt payments, FAA officials said.
McCarran has already had to change the way it operates because of the decline in passengers, McCarran officials said.
“We have consolidated and closed the B concourse and the E concourse, as well as the TSA has closed the C annex checkpoint, and we have consolidated some of the parking options here as well," McCarran spokesperson Joe Rajchel said.
“For us, that was a way to help maintain social distancing — less people in the building, less people coming into contact with each other. Also, it allows our custodial team to prioritize other areas for additional cleanings and to keep those resources for areas where people are going to be,” Rajchel said.
On April 7, TSA officers screened fewer than 100,000 travelers across all U.S. airports, down 95% from 2.1 million travelers on the same day a year ago, a record low, officials said.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air announced today it plans to cut its flights by 80 to 90% during April and May, with additional reductions anticipated this summer. The company also estimated that revenue for March 2020 was down 40 to 45% from the same time last year.
Company officers have taken a 50% salary reduction, officials said. Nearly 700 Allegiant employees — 15% of the workforce — have taken voluntary, 60-day leaves at half pay and full benefits.
“The outbreak of coronavirus is having an impact which we’ve never seen in the travel industry. Even as a domestic carrier, to have zero demand across almost every community we serve is truly unsettling,” said Maurice J. Gallagher Jr., Allegiant’s chairman and CEO.
“With the situation changing daily, we are taking proactive steps to ensure operations continue, protect the livelihoods of our team members, and put us in the best possible position to serve our customers when demand for travel returns,” Gallagher said.
