“Welcome to Las Vegas” by Tony Webster, used under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped from original
Ranked as the 8th busiest airport in the United States, McCarran International Airport accommodates nearly 4 million travelers in and out of Las Vegas each month. What started as Alamo Airport in 1942 with just 12 daily flights now has more than 500 daily flights (over 500,000 per year) servicing 150 cities worldwide.
The airport was named after the late U.S. Senator Pat McCarran, a member of the Democratic Party who contributed to the development of aviation both in Las Vegas and on a national scale. McCarran has undergone significant expansion over the years and currently covers 2,800 acres (about 4.4 sq. mi.) of land.
The annual traveler volume has increased year to year for the past six consecutive years and for 2016, there was an impressive 47.4 million passengers. October 2017 was also the busiest month on record for McCarran International Airport.
Over the years, McCarran International Airport has been used in many film and television productions. It has been featured in classic films such as Viva Las Vegas, Casino, Oceans Thirteen, and Vegas Vacation among others as well as notable television shows such as The Amazing Race, The Kardashians, MTV’s Real World, Kojak, and even The Rockford Files way back in 1974.
McCarran International Airport is the 3rd busiest airport in the west behind LAX and SFO. They have invested more than $250 million in infrastructure upgrades and improvements including a new air traffic control tower and a newly reinforced runway, the third longest in the country.
The airport has 3 terminals and 110 gates. Fun fact: it is one of less than a dozen airports worldwide that tracks checked baggage using Radio Frequency (RF) tags instead of traditional barcode luggage tags.
Another feature you won’t find in most other airports is slot machines. Lots of them. McCarran has more than 1300 slot machines scattered throughout and has made millionaires out of more than a few passengers killing time during a layover.
In 2015, two people won million dollar jackpots playing slots at the airport. In March of 2016, a lucky local won $933,000 and in August 2017, a California woman won $1.6 million! TIP: More than a few winners were playing the Wheel of Fortune games.
And then of course, there’s Brad Pitt’s $11 million dollar slot machine win at the end of Oceans Thirteen.
While requests for filming and photography at McCarran International Airport are welcomed, there are certain requirements and guidelines that must be met prior to approval. For more information on those requirements and guidelines, please visit their website here: https://www.mccarran.com/Business/Filming
Commercial filming and photography allowed include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Motion pictures
- Television shows
- Documentaries
- Music videos
- Promotional videos or photography
- Advertising (television, print, digital)
- Photography and video for sale
- Stock photography and filming
Whether you’re filming Hollywood’s next big blockbuster or a cameo scene for a TV show, McCarran International Airport can add that perfect Las Vegas touch to any film or television production. For more information, you can view the full McCarran International Airport location details here and don’t forget to register your project!
Sources:
https://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/dec/25/mccarran-international-airport-by-the-numbers/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarran_International_Airport
http://www.imdb.com/search/title?locations=McCarran%20International%20Airport
http://www.latedeparture.com/2011/09/21/las-vegas-airport-location-scout/
http://paulblow.tripod.com/las-vegas-airport-slots.html
https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/california-womans-5-bet-wins-1-6m-jackpot-at-mccarran/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2016/03/28/las-vegas-flier-hits-933080-jackpot-airport-slot-machine/82351206/