McCarran’s passenger processing gets boost
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
McCarran International Airport will participate in a public-private reimbursement program to pay overtime expenses to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers who have been swamped by an increase in international passenger traffic that began last year.
The Homeland Security Department confirmed Wednesday that McCarran has been selected for a program that will help process passengers arriving on international flights.
In April and May, Sens. Dean Heller, R-Nev., and Harry Reid, D-Nev., wrote Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, supporting McCarran’s application for the reimbursable services program within the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The program would allow McCarran to reimburse Customs and Border Protection for overtime costs.
McCarran was among 16 ports of entry — five of them airports — of 25 applicants that were accepted into the program. The contract will be finalized later this year.
Under the program, airlines or charter carriers requesting Customs and Border Protection processing would be allowed to arrive at any time of day and pay processing costs to McCarran. Participation assures that the federal agency would be reimbursed for the service.
Currently, an international carrier arriving after the agency’s hours would be asked to arrive at a time when the agency is open. Airport officials say that could lead to canceled flights or arrivals at other ports of entry.
The program includes the processing of passengers arriving at private terminals on the west side of the airport. High rollers often arrive by private jet, but they still have to be processed by Customs.
“This is great news for Southern Nevada,” Clark County Aviation Director Rosemary Vassiliadis said. “International visitation has been a phenomenal success story, with the number of passengers who arrived at McCarran via nonstop international flights climbing by more than 40 percent from 2009 through 2013.”
Vassiliadis said Clark County made an investment to support growth with the opening of Terminal 3 in 2012, and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and resorts have marketed the city worldwide. “But those efforts and improvements would be stymied without adequate resources to process those visitors once they’ve deplaned,” she said.
Terminal 3’s opening was a springboard for additional international flights to Las Vegas and international traffic has grown steadily.
In 2013, McCarran had the largest percentage increase of international passengers arriving in the United States. But federal officials were not prepared for the rapid growth. Staff shortages and restricted hours resulted in passenger processing delays.
Fearing an adverse response from airlines, the local tourism industry and McCarran appealed to Reid for help.
“I’m pleased we were able to get Las Vegas added to the list,” Reid said Wednesday.
“There were times that the lines were far too long,” he said. “Tourists want to spend their time in Las Vegas, not on planes or in lines at the airport. This will enable us to process passengers 24 hours a day.”
The approval comes a day after the House voted to reauthorize the Brand USA public-private program to increase inbound international travel by marketing U.S. destinations around the world. The Senate Commerce Committee approved the measure in a unanimous vote Wednesday and travel industry leaders have urged the Senate to take up the legislation immediately. Contact reporter Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@ reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow him on Twitter @RickVelotta.