ON June 27, Las Vegas’s McCarran International Airport will officially open its new US$2.4-billion Terminal 3, USA Today reports. T3 will replace the dowdy Terminal 2, which is set to close next day.  The new terminal will house 14 gates with new technology that allows self-boarding capabilities at the gates and self-tagging for baggage at check-in. Half of the terminal's gates can handle direct international flights, a segment that has been among the fastest growing at the airport. T3 will feature seven new restaurants and retail outlets, including a duty-free shop and express spa. Fliers with gadgets will appreciate free Wi-Fi and an abundance of power outlets throughout the terminal. A classic Las Vegas standby are the nearly 300 slot machines.

Several major U.S. airlines, including American, Delta, US Airways and Southwest, McCarran's busiest carrier, will stay in Terminal 1. After the new terminal opens, McCarran will begin transitioning 23 of its airlines to T3 in a three-phase process. The first airlines to take up residence in T3 will include air berlin, British Airways, Korean Air, Philippines Air and WestJet. In all, 16 international airlines fly to Las Vegas with seasonal or year-round service. Once T3 is fully operational, about a third of the airport's passengers will check in and go through security there. A new eight-mile roadway system is dedicated to T3 with the aim of reducing auto traffic that currently all goes to the main terminal area. T3 and the main terminal will have their own taxi stands.

Helen Johnston
(hjohnston@travelinfo.ca)

Travelinfo.ca

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