The City of Sin is coming alive again as resorts begin to reopen following the loosening of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. As many travelers flock to Las Vegas, the city is expecting to see a significant increase in traffic, especially at McCarran International Airport and Interstate 15.
According to Brian Hoeft, director of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada’s traffic management center, there was a 23 percent spike in traffic last Thursday, which was reopening day, in comparison with the Thursday before.
McCarran International Airport had an average of 141 arriving flights per day last month but saw over 190 arrivals on Thursday and Friday. During the lockdown, the airport was extremely quiet, but last week proved that a revival is on the horizon.
If you’re planning on traveling to Las Vegas this summer, here’s what you should know:
According to David Pekoske, TSA Administrator, “In the interest of TSA front-line workers and traveler health, TSA is committed to making prudent changes to our screening processes to limit physical contact and increase physical distance as much as possible. We continue to evaluate our security measures with an eye toward making smart, timely decisions benefiting health and safety, as well as the traveler experience.”
New policies by TSA will go into effect later this month.
TSA officers will be required to wear face masks and so should travelers. When going through security, keep your mask on and continue to practice social distancing between airport employees and other travelers.
The days of handing your boarding pass to a TSA officer are long gone. You will now have to place your electronic or paper boarding pass under the scanner yourself. This way, there are lower chances of spreading viruses.
As traffic and crowds start to increase, it’s important to constantly wash your hands and continue to practice social distancing.