Published on: November 6, 2025, 08:02h. 

Updated on: November 6, 2025, 08:02h.

• Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas may need to reduce its daily flights.
• The FAA is limiting air traffic as more air traffic controllers are unwilling to work during the government shutdown.

Chances are high that Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas will be among the 40 major airports directed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to decrease their flight operations due to the ongoing government shutdown, which has entered its second month.

On Wednesday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the FAA’s recommendation to limit flights due to increasing air traffic controller shortages. These essential ground-based controllers have been working without compensation since the federal government shutdown began on October 1, following Congress’s inability to pass a funding bill.

Although federal air traffic controllers will receive back pay once the shutdown concludes, a resolution remains uncertain. Disagreement over extending Obamacare tax provisions has led many controllers to refuse work.

Effects Across the Nation 

Las Vegas’s tourism industry has faced challenges in 2025, with visitor numbers through September dropping by 8.8% compared to the previous year. Consequently, hotel occupancy rates in casinos have declined by 5.2%, and nightly room rates have seen a decrease of 2.9%.

Tomorrow, the FAA is expected to officially announce the 40 airports slated to reduce flight services to alleviate issues with air traffic controller staffing. Sources suggest that Las Vegas will be included in this list.

The FAA is likely to enforce a 10% reduction in flights across the 40 affected airports, requiring them to collaborate with airlines to comply.

This FAA ruling is anticipated to impact virtually all airports nationwide, resulting in flight delays as airlines adjust schedules and manage airport slots, with staff changes to accommodate new patterns.

Among the 10 busiest airports in the country expected to face reductions are those in Las Vegas, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, JFK in New York, Charlotte, Orlando, and Miami.

Other significant cities poised for service cuts include Boston, Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark in New Jersey, LaGuardia in New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC.

Interestingly, Reno, Nevada’s second-busiest airport, is not on the anticipated list, classified as a “small count” airport serving fewer than 2.4 million passengers in FY24.

Southwest Airlines Leads in Southern Nevada

More travelers rely on Southwest Airlines for flights in and out of Southern Nevada than any other airline. The budget airline has accounted for over 16.25 million passengers arriving and departing through LAS from January to September 2025.

Southwest’s closest rival in Las Vegas is Spirit Airlines, which facilitated four million passengers until September 2025. Delta follows closely with 3.96 million, American at 3.34 million, and United at 3.14 million.

Passenger throughput at Harry Reid has seen a dip in 2025, recording a 4.7% decrease in incoming and outgoing travelers through September.